Surat (Gujarat) is on the verge of becoming India’s first slum-free city through large-scale in-situ slum redevelopment led by the Surat Municipal Corporation under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and state housing schemes.
By replacing slums with permanent multi-storey housing equipped with water, sanitation, drainage, lighting, and roads, Surat is improving urban living standards, reducing inequality, and setting a national model for sustainable urban development (SDG-11).
Key Progress and Statistics
- Drastic Reduction: In 2006, approximately 36–38% of Surat’s population lived in slums. As of January 2026, this has been reduced to just 5%.
- Target Population: The milestone is particularly significant as Surat manages a population of 70–80 lakh, compared to Chandigarh’s roughly 10 lakh.
- In-Situ Redevelopment: A core strategy has been rebuilding permanent housing at the same locations to keep residents near their workplaces.
