Population
: 2.3 mil. (1995 projected)
Area
: 113 sq. kms.
Density / Sq.km.
: 20,353 persons
Percentage of
Slum dwellers
: 40.39%
Municipality setup in : 1852
Pop. covered by sanitation
: 63%
Pop. Covered by protected water : 60%
Pop. Covered by sewerage
: 30%
Morbidity rate
: 18%
Employees
: 15,000
Industries
Industrial
Output
: Synthetic textiles,
yarn manufacturing,
diamond cutting and polishing
and manufacture of gold and
silver brocade.
: Rs.9,000 crores.
Tax collections: Rs.2,100 crores (federal,
State, municipal)
Services
Provided : Roads, water supply, sewerage,
storm drains, lighting, schools,
fire services, parks & gardens,
Zoo, social welfare services,
public health and sanitation,
hospitals, community services,
conference centres, shopping
complexes etc.
Annual Budget : Rs.400 crores.
Units
: Rs 1 crore = Rs.10 million.
 Decompartmentalization.
 Devolution of administrative & financial
powers.
Accountability = Responsibility +
commensurate authority.
 Creations of six zones as cohesive units
for prompt service delivery under
commissioners.
 Micro planning to rationalize men,
materials, machines & money.
 AC to DC.
 Regulatory
- top down.
Developmental - bottom up.
 Administrative charges to check free-riders
and inculcate “polluter pays concept”.
 Flexible work methods to suit citizens’
convenience.
 Computerised complaint redressal
system for time bound quality services.
 Enforcing discipline.
 Awards for meritorious employees.
 Plugging loopholes in property taxation.
• 25% area to be assessed each year.
• Fixation of accountability.
• Cross verification & social auditing.
 Plugging loopholes in Octroi collections.
• Closed loop wireless communications.
• Flying squads.
• Vigilance checks & social auditing.
 Computerisation of all accounting
systems.
 Profit centre approach to bring in
efficiencies in service delivery.
 Switchover from Govt. accounting
systems to commercial accounting.
 Results achieved without any hike
in tax, cess and charges structure.
• Out of arrears totalling Rs.102 crores
in property taxes 97% recoveries achieved.
• Un-assessed properties yielding annually
Rs.30 crores of taxes brought under net.
• Under assessed properties yielding
annually Rs.18 crores of taxes brought
under net.
• Octroi collections jumped up by 19%.
 Unit rate system for roads, water supply
sewerage, lighting, maintenance.
 Breaking the cartel of contractors.
 Six month six page rule.
 Quality checks on construction through
third party assurance.
 Results :
• Plan expenditure increased by 600%.
• 825 classrooms constructed in the
slums in 18 months.
• 95% of pop. covered by protected
drinking water.
• New water treatment plants commissioned
increasing the capacity three fold.
 Results :
• New sewerage treatment plants
commissioned increasing the capacity
six fold.
• 92 kms. of main roads widened.
• 82 % of slums upgraded.
• 300 kms. New roads laid.
 Results :
• Street lighting goes upto 98.2%.
• 96.5% population covered by sanitation
services.
• 98% garbage cleared daily.
• Private public partnerships.
• Surat First Crusade launched.





Declared second cleanest city in the
country by INTACH.
75% reduction in morbidity rates (IMA).
Awarded “Best Practices Award” by
UNCHS (Habitat).
Citizens owning the city and increased
social auditing of the municipal corporation.
Increased self-esteem, team spirit in the
employees.
We don’t see things as they are
we see them as we are.
Anais Nin
No matter how bleak the situation
There are always two alternatives.
Polish Proverb