Surat: The Rise of India’s First Slum-Free Megacity

​India is a land of massive cities and even bigger dreams. For decades, the image of the Indian megacity has been tied to a stark contrast: gleaming skyscrapers standing right next to sprawling informal settlements. But in 2026, the city of Surat in Gujarat is rewriting that narrative.

​With its population surging past 70 lakh, Surat is on the verge of becoming India’s first large-scale "slum-free" megacity. This isn't just a minor statistical tweak; it is a massive urban transformation that has seen the slum population plummet from nearly 38% two decades ago to just about 5% today. This milestone is positioning the "Diamond City" as a national role model for how to handle rapid urbanization with dignity and planning.

​A Transformation Decades in the Making

​To understand where Surat is today, we have to look back at where it started. In the early 1990s, Surat was a city struggling with its own growth. It faced a devastating plague outbreak in 1994 that served as a wake-up call for the entire nation. Since then, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has been on a relentless mission to reinvent the city’s infrastructure.

​The journey toward becoming slum-free gained real momentum around 2006. Back then, more than one-third of the city lived in cramped, informal settlements without proper access to water or sanitation. Today, those numbers have flipped. Through consistent effort and a clear vision, the city has managed to provide permanent, "pucca" housing to hundreds of thousands of its residents.

​The Secret Sauce: In-Situ Redevelopment

​One of the biggest hurdles in clearing slums is relocation. People often resist moving because their livelihoods are tied to their current location. Surat solved this by focusing on "In-Situ Slum Redevelopment" (ISSR).

​Instead of pushing people to the outskirts of the city, the government rebuilt housing on the very land where the slums stood. By working with private developers under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, the city replaced clusters of shanties with planned, multi-storey residential complexes. This allowed families to stay near their workplaces in the textile and diamond industries while finally having a front door that locks, a private toilet, and a clean kitchen.

​More Than Just Four Walls and a Roof

​If you walk into a new "Suman" housing project in Surat, you will see that this isn't just about providing a roof. These projects are designed to feel like middle-class societies. They come equipped with:

• ​Piped Water and Gas: No more waiting for water tankers or carrying heavy cylinders.

• ​Aesthetic Gated Communities: Compound walls, watchman cabins, and LED streetlighting.

• ​Green Spaces: Many projects include gardens with gazebos and play areas for children.

• ​Modern Amenities: Features like fire-fighting systems, organic waste converters, and even elevators in taller buildings.

​By providing these amenities, the city is doing more than just moving people; it is raising the standard of living for the most vulnerable members of society.

​Scaling Up: The 70-Lakh Challenge

​While cities like Chandigarh have achieved slum-free status in the past, they did so with much smaller populations. Surat is in a different league entirely. Managing a city of over 70 lakh people—many of whom are migrant workers coming for the booming textile and diamond trades—is a logistical mountain.

​The scale of Surat’s achievement is what makes it a "megacity" success story. It proves that you can have high-density urban living without sacrificing quality of life. The Gujarat government is now looking to replicate this "Surat Model" in other major cities like Ahmedabad and Rajkot, hoping to create a ripple effect across the state.

​Balancing Industrial Growth with Social Welfare

​Surat is the diamond-processing hub of the world and a powerhouse for Indian textiles. This economic success attracts thousands of new migrants every month. Usually, rapid migration leads to more slums, but Surat has managed to stay ahead of the curve.

​The city’s planning focuses on inclusive growth. By integrating affordable housing into the urban fabric and ensuring that new projects are close to transport hubs like the BRTS (Bus Rapid Transit System), Surat ensures that its workforce is well-housed and well-connected. This balance is critical for any city that wants to grow without leaving its people behind.

​The Challenges That Remain

​Of course, no journey is without its bumps. Relocating thousands of families is a sensitive process. There have been instances where communities were hesitant to move due to concerns over commute times or the loss of social networks. Additionally, maintaining these new high-rise buildings requires a shift in mindset for residents who are used to ground-level living.

​Ensuring the long-term maintenance of elevators, water pumps, and common areas is the next big challenge for the municipal corporation. However, the initial hurdle—moving from "temporary" to "permanent"—has been largely cleared.

​What This Means for India’s Urban Future

​Surat’s success is a signal to every other major city in India: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata. It proves that slums are not an inevitable part of Indian urban life. With the right mix of political will, private partnership, and resident participation, it is possible to build a city where everyone has a dignified place to live.

​As Surat nears its final "slum-free" certification, it stands as a testament to what can be achieved over two decades of focused planning. The city that was once known for a plague is now known for its podium finish in cleanliness and urban housing. It is a story of resilience, and more importantly, a story of a city that decided to take care of all its citizens, not just the wealthy ones.

​A Milestone for the National Housing Mission

​The progress in Surat is a major win for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) and various state-level housing policies. By effectively utilizing Transferable Development Rights (TDR) and other innovative financial tools, the city has managed to fund these massive projects without breaking the municipal bank.

​As we move further into 2026, the eyes of urban planners around the world are on Surat. If a city this big and this busy can do it, there is hope for every megacity on the planet.