Surat speaks – Major Unmesh Pandya takes Prof Shastri’s idea further to satellite towns….

“There are no strangers in this world, there are only friends, who have not met.” Major Pandya would say this to a complete stranger, and friendship will begin! Not many people could do that.

Major Unmesh Pandya is not an unknown name for surtis. He has keen interest in history, art and is a person of high intellect. For almost two decades, he is associated with ‘AAN’ – Alumni Association of NCC Cadets. AAN, has only one prominent aim, and that is, to make defense of our country stronger. Make our Country stronger.

Of course, he is a man with many good qualities. Two of them remain with you forever. His transparent smile and his love for mother India!

It was good to have him respond to Prof Niket’s views shared in previous post. Pasting his entire response, as it is for readers.

“The main problem of Surat is a lack of politico- bureaucratic vision and conviction. All else is miniscule in comparison to that. A triangular mega city with Surat, Navsari and Bardoli as its vertices is already coming up automatically without any conscious plan or deliberate planning. It could be one of the largest urban units of the world, and an immense growth engine for us if we wake up to the realities in time. If we don't, as we usually didn't, it will become a perpetual nightmare of a plethora of issues like infrastructure, environment, etc. And 20 years from now, someone else like my learned friend Niket would be coming out with crisis management suggestions for that mega city of the future. To allow crisis to be created out of utter ignorance and negligence, and then coming out with 11th hour solutions has become the name of the game.”

We all agree to Major’s comments. Most of the cities of our country have grown in an organic pattern, unlike most of the western cities, who have grid iron growth pattern. This growth pattern, makes the job of planners and authorities tough. Concept of satellite town, in the vicinity of main urban area, in often a very good solution to the problems. It not only reduces the issues in transportation, but also helps in managing floating population. Availability of labour, at fair rates, boosts the economy of both, main and satellite town.

Thank you, Major Pandya.

Himanshu Padhya