77,951 sq m land allotted for new district court complex in Magdalla

Surat: The district collector has allotted 77,951 sq m of land in Magdalla for the construction of a new Surat district court complex.Collector Sourabh Pardhi signed an order on Wednesday approving the change of purpose for Final Plot No. 55 in Town Planning Scheme-4 of Rundh-Magdalla. The decision follows a meeting of a high-power committee held at the Gujarat High Court on March 25.During the meeting, officials recommended that the new court complex be built on this plot and formally requested the collector to allot the land. The proposed court building is estimated to cost Rs 181.11 crore, for which funding has already been sanctioned.The meeting was attended by the deputy chief minister, members of the High Court's infrastructure committee, the secretary of the state legal department, the secretary of the roads and buildings department, Surat's principal district and sessions judge, the district collector and other officials.The land had originally been allotted to the state roads and buildings department for constructing government staff quarters and storing bridge construction material. With the latest order, the land will now be used for the court complex.Local advocates have welcomed the decision.District government pleader Nayan Sukhadwala said the large parcel of land would allow for spacious courtrooms and improved parking facilities for advocates and visitors. "We hope the new complex will bring various courts under one roof," he said.Surat District Bar Association president Uday Patel described the move as significant, noting that an earlier proposal to allot land at Jiav-Budia village had to be scrapped after opposition from lawyers. "We are happy with the decision. The new complex will strengthen court infrastructure in Surat," he said.