Last month, SMC identified 245 dilapidated structures in Surat

At the review meeting, the commissioner was told that there are over 245 dilapidated buildings in the city. Multiple notices had been issued to the owners to bring down such structures but to no avail, civic officials had said.

Of these 245 buildings, while 170 are in Udhna B zone, 21 are in Rander zone, 16 each in Katargam and Limbayat zone, 13 in central zone as well as four each in Udhna A and Athwa zones.

SMC Deputy Commissioner (Town Planning) Manish Doctor, said, “As many as 245 buildings and houses have been identified as dangerous. Our teams are checking the properties one by one… While in some cases, we have disconnected water and drainage lines, in some other cases, we are taking help of the police to vacate the properties.”

“We have initiated a survey to identify properties that are too weak. Once identified, our teams visit the properties and make the residents aware of the danger. People resist our officials and refuse to vacate the premises…,” he added.