Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) aims to convert river Tapi into an environment protector and a centre for public recreation and entertainment on the lines of Sabarmati riverfront project in Ahmedabad. The foundation stone for the Rs 44 crore project will be laid on January 25 as part of golden jubilee of Gujarat's statehood and Republic Day celebrations in the city.

Additional city engineer and project in-charge Ketan Patel told TOI, "This project on completion in 18 months will improve the urban atmosphere and landscape and provide additional protection to the flood-prone areas in the city."

The project will come up on 54 hectares of land on a three-km-long stretch of Tapi riverbank. About 30 hectares of this land was illegally occupied four months ago by slum dwellers. SMC in one of its biggest anti-encroachment drives shifted over 30,000 residents from the slums on the riverbank to the newly constructed EWS housing scheme in Kosad. 

The Tapi riverfront development will have walkway development, food plaza, cycle track, walking track, festival ground for public festivals, green garden and mini floral park. It will also have parking for 2,200 four-wheelers and 3,000 two-wheelers.