Surat: After shelving the plans for a comprehensive mobility plan in 2008, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has decided to revive it and complete it by December. The plan with a 30-year horizon will be conceived keeping in mind the traffic, rising number of vehicles and availability of public transport. 

This plan was conceptualized in 2008. However, as work on public transport systems remained at a slow pace, the mobility plan was put back in the shelves.

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Surat's mobility plan will essentially focus on three modes of transport — BRTS, city bus system and the proposed metro rail network. 

"We are also reviewing possibility of water transport on both shores of Tapi river," said Swamy and added that the SMC will also be creating a number of pedestrian-friendly streets in the city and bicycle tracks for which the work has already begun.

Planners will also take into consideration repeated movements of goods in the city, especially in the walled city area, causing havoc in congested areas. 

"We will also look into the possibility of reducing repeated movements of goods," said SMC town planner Debasis Basak.

CEPT University is likely to submit the new draft plan to SMC by the end of December. It will also add suggestions for integrating road network with upcoming dedicated freight corridor which could be alleviated. 

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