How bullet train boom is reshaping Surat’s urban landscape and what is TP Scheme No 61?

Upcoming bullet train station in Surat (IndiaInfra02 / X)

The upcoming bullet train station in Surat, part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, is driving new urban development in the city. In just eight months, the city has been awarded the first Town Planning Scheme in Gujarat, TP Scheme No 61, according to an official press release.

As part of this initiative, over 3 lakh square metres of land have been marked for constructing new roads. In total, five separate town planning schemes are to be developed in Surat under the project, laying the foundation for well-organised growth around the upcoming bullet train station.

According to K D Patel, Senior Town Planner with the Urban Development and Urban Housing Department of the Gujarat government, the Town Planning (TP) Scheme number 61 (Kosmada–Chhedcha–Oviyan in Surat district) is not just a planning document for the fast-developing city, but a roadmap for inclusive and future-ready growth of the region. A total of five town planning schemes have been designed to cover and strengthen the foundation for the city’s economic zones, residential areas, and multimodal connectivity, he said.

The approval of Scheme Number 61 also carries historic significance. Patel pointed out that exactly a century ago, in September 1925, India’s first-ever town planning scheme was implemented in Ahmedabad, the Jamalpur TP Scheme. Now, in September 2025, Surat’s TP Scheme Number 61 has reached its preliminary stage. He emphasised that this marks the first time a scheme of such scale has been awarded in such a short time.

The Surat scheme covers around 164 hectares and includes 135 final plots. Its approval followed a rigorous process, which included hearings to address applications, objections, and suggestions from landowners and stakeholders. Legal and technical steps such as tentative reconstitution, consultations with the Chief Town Planner, plot book preparation, measurement sheets, and supporting documentation were all completed in record time. The entire process took just eight months, which is considered both historic and rare in the field of urban planning.

To ensure smooth transport connectivity around the bullet train station area in Surat, a planned road network of over 300,000 square meters with varying widths has been designed. “This initiative reflects the philosophy that ‘today’s planning shapes tomorrow’s future’,” Patel said.

“For cities like Surat, linked with the bullet train, TP schemes are not merely planning blueprints but dynamic documents of development, envisioning improved infrastructure, housing, and an enriched quality of life for citizens. With the integrated efforts of the Central and State governments and strong direction of the Urban Development Department, Surat is poised to emerge as a modern model in India’s urban development landscape,” Patel added.

The five TP schemes being developed will together cover seven villages in Surat district, Kosmada, Chhedcha, Antroli, Sabargam, Oviyan, Niyol, and Vankaneda. These areas are expected to undergo transformative changes once the project is fully executed.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project itself is one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure ventures, featuring 12 stations in total, eight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra.