Last Updated:January 02, 2026, 14:08 IST Officials said that the overarching goal was that every resident should have a durable roof over their head so that no family is forced to live in a slum The SMC will replace all slum clusters with modern multi-storey apartment complexes. (AI-Generated Image) In major urban centres, from financial capitals to political power hubs, glittering skylines often stand in stark contrast to sprawling slums. Administrations across the country have long sought to bridge this divide. Now, India’s famed “Diamond City” is poised to script history by becoming the country’s first slum-free urban zone. Surat in Gujarat, known for its cleanliness record and rapid economic growth, is reportedly on the verge of eliminating slums entirely. The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has implemented the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) and state housing policies with unusual efficiency, turning a majority of informal settlements into permanent housing blocks. Officials said that the overarching goal was that every resident should have a durable roof over their head so that no family is forced to …