DREAM City Surat: PM Modi says project will turn Surat into safest and convenient diamond trading hub – here’s how

Dream city Surat: While addressing a rally, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said once the Diamond Research and Mercantile (DREAM) city project is completed, Surat will emerge as the safest and convenient diamond trading hub in the world.

After laying the foundation stone and inaugurating a host of projects here in Gujarat, PM Modi said in the last 20 years Surat has progressed by leaps and bounds. Mentioning the Surat Airport and its significance, Modi said he was tired explaining the need for an airport here to the then UPA government and now, many people use the airport here and it has helped in the city's development. 

"Now, many people come and go from the airport here and it has helped in the city's development. This is the benefit of the double engine government," he said. 

Modi said many families are dependent on the diamond and textile industries of Surat. "Surat will emerge as the safest and convenient diamond trading hub in the world once the DREAM city project is completed," Modi said.

He also said that more than four crore people have got free medical treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme in the country, and out of these 32 lakhs are from Gujarat including 1.25 lakh from Surat.

What is the dream city project? 
Diamond Research and Mercantile City, also known as DREAM City, is an upcoming business district in Surat, India. It will be built on 2,000 acres (810 ha) of land near Khajod, along the lines of the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City and Dholera Smart city near Ahmedabad. Expected to open in 2017–2018 it will be Gujarat's third smart city.

The district is projected to have office space, residential areas, and facilities for these residential areas. It will be established and run by a special purpose vehicle formed by the Government of Gujarat. The special purpose vehicle, named DREAM City Company Limited, was formed by the passage of a resolution in the assembly of the state government.