New Delhi: Thirty-eight-year-old Sharma has been an inspector in Surat’s income tax department for four years. Every morning, he enters a modest four-storey office building on the Ghoddod road. There is a space crunch everywhere. With very little room on his desk—that can barely hold a laptop, a notebook and pen—his bag usually lies on the floor. And even his seat isn’t permanent. The assignments keep changing, and so does his desk. All that is about to change with India’s tallest government building coming up in Surat—a G+27 twin tower structure.
“Each day I curse this office, when I struggle to find space. It’s uncomfortable and outdated. But there’s no choice,” he said. “These buildings were designed for a much smaller government. Then departments expanded, and more people joined. The offices never kept pace.”
Government office buildings often remind of old, rickety infrastructure that are in dire need of attention, with officials struggling for space. But a big change is starting from Surat. India has seen other large government consolidation projects like the Central Vista Secretariat redevelopment in Delhi, or state high-rise admin buildings in places like Tripura that has a G+14 structure. But none combine the height, departmental mergers, and infrastructural scale that Surat’s twin towers are aiming for. While the Central Vista project is spread horizontally, Surat has chosen the vertical route.
The estimated project cost is Rs 1,586 crore and it will have a four-level underground parking facility that can consolidate 5,000 two-wheelers and 1,200 cars. Additionally, a civic centre, committee rooms, and public waiting areas have been designed to ease citizen access
The “twin towers” project, which was announced in 2022 by the Gujarat government under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is closely monitored by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The plan is ambitious. Two high-rises, one 27 floors and the other 17, linked by a common podium and spread over more than 2.2 lakh square metres of floor area.
After the completion the towers will have offices of the Surat Municipal Corporation, the collectorate, and central departments like GST and Income Tax. “The idea is simple: one campus, all offices,” said Nilesh Patel, Deputy Commissioner of the Surat Municipal Corporation.
“For citizens, that means quicker services, fewer rounds of offices, and an end to wasting time in traffic between departments. For employees, it means a modern workspace instead of old, crumbling buildings,” said Patel.
The estimated project cost is Rs 1,586 crore and it will have a four-level underground parking facility that can consolidate 5,000 two-wheelers and 1,200 cars. Additionally, a civic centre, committee rooms, and public waiting areas have been designed to ease citizen access.
Officials ThePrint spoke to said 50% work has been completed and the project is expected to be handed over by January 2027. The project is being jointly executed by Ahmedabad-based PSP Projects and Surat’s Unique Construction.
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Modi’s imprint on Surat’s skyline
Prime Minister Modi has showcased Surat as a symbol of his good governance, which is efficient, business-friendly, and forward-looking. Officials in the SMC say he has personally reviewed progress and offered suggestions.
“PM Modi has seen the work, given inputs, and emphasised that this building should become a model for civic campuses across India,” said Daxesh Mavani, Surat Mayor
The project is ambitious. But for PSP Projects, the Ahmedabad-based contractor, execution has some challenges.
“The most complex part was the basement,” said P.S. Patel, who heads the firm’s infrastructure vertical. “We had to excavate deep for car parking and utilities while simultaneously starting tower construction above. This was right next to active city roads. We used diaphragm walls, staged excavation, night-time traffic plans, and strict waterproofing checks to keep the structure safe.”
Repair of the Gujarat Assembly, the Sabarmati Riverfront Development in Ahmedabad, Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC) main building in GIFT City are some of the prominent works undertaken by PSP Projects.
The builders have also used computer modelling to spot and fix design clashes in advance — where pipes and glass panels might interfere. The design is “podium plus tower,” which means the base and towers can be completed in stages
The towers are designed by INI Design Studio. At the centre of each tower is a strong concrete core that is supported by special beams called “outriggers”. Its work is to spread the load across the structure. This makes the buildings stable and steady against strong winds and earthquakes. Surat falls in seismic zone III — an area with moderate earthquake risk. The design ensures the towers can handle tremors without damage.
All the wiring, pipes and utility systems have been put together in central sections so that the towers can be more efficient. This would avoid breaking main building structure in case of leakages. The builders have also used computer modelling to spot and fix design clashes in advance — where pipes and glass panels might interfere. The design is “podium plus tower,” which means the base and towers can be completed in stages. This allows officials to start using some parts of the building while work continues on others.
The twin towers are following the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) platinum standards. They are being built on sustainable measures such as energy efficiency glass façades, HVAC zoning, LED and smart lighting, and a centralised sewage treatment plant with tertiary recycling
City officials stress that the twin towers are not meant to be another isolated high-rise. Patel agreed. “Centralising offices reduces duplication, allows digital services to be integrated, and supports better urban planning.”
The twin towers are following the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) platinum standards. They are being built on sustainable measures such as energy efficiency glass façades, HVAC zoning, LED and smart lighting, and a centralised sewage treatment plant with tertiary recycling. About 50 per cent of water use will be met through recycling and rainwater harvesting. Green roofs and landscaped podium areas are expected to reduce the urban heat-island effect.
“Solar plants will help meet the electricity load, and the building will be economical to operate in the long run,” said Mavani. “This is not just South Gujarat’s tallest building, but perhaps the only municipal building of this scale anywhere in the world.”
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The towers will redefine Surat’s skyline. Rising from the Ring Road, they will be visible for miles — a symbol of the city’s aspirations and administrative ambition. More than just offices, they are designed to be landmarks.
Patel said this project can be used as a template in the other states as well if the govt is planning to build more such buildings.
“Future projects will copy the podium-plus-tower model, integrated citizen services, and sustainability benchmarks. It’s not just about a skyline — it’s about showing how the government can serve citizens smarter.”
Back in his cramped office, Inspector Sharma says he is looking forward to the shift. “If I get a permanent desk in that new building, it will be a blessing,” he said. “But more than that, I won’t have to get troubled to find space for the parking and beat myself in the intense traffic.”
(Edited by Anurag Chaubey)