With little progress being made by the Surat Urban Development Authority (SUDA) and the Dumas Development Committee, formed almost two years ago with the objective of ensuring the rapid development of Dumas and surrounding areas as tourist attraction, it is the first time that SMC has shown interest in developing it.

SMC authorities are slated to meet officials of the SUDA and the collectorate on Friday to finalise the formalities and the role SMC would play in the development of the area, which has a largely under-utilised coast-line.

The key issue, however, was whether the SMC could actually develop areas that were outside its jurisdiction. According to SMC officials, the Bombay Provisional Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act had made provisions for a civic body to spend money on projects outside its jurisdiction.

While officials in the collectorate maintained that it the SMC's look out how it managed to do so, SUDA officials felt that all agencies should work together in the development of the region.

``SUDA has already taken up widening of the roads from Rundh Octroi Post where the SMC limit ends to Dumas. Moreover, a proposal to light up the entire road is being considered which would be discussed during the meeting on October 9,'' Chief Executive Authority, SUDA J B Vora said.

He added that the SUDA had decided to bear the costs of lighting up the entire road and had other ambitious plans like construction of a 500-metre cemented road, joining the Dumas beach to a small island in the sea, on the lines of Haji Ali in Mumbai.

``The proposal is that we will will set up the lighting poles and the SMC will have to maintain them, but this will be finalised during the meeting,'' Vora stated. While SUDA has already spent Rs 6 crore on the road widening, the lighting costs are expected to touch Rs 80 lakhs.

When asked why SUDA was roping in the SMC, Vora stated that area was not the factor here and once Dumas was developed, the sole beneficiaries would be people residing in the city rather than the villagers on the outskirts.

Interestingly, the Dumas Development Committee, of which the collector is the chairman, has not met for over four months now, although it is slated to meet once in two months.

Standing committee chairman Ajay Choksi confirmed that the SUDA did sent a few proposals to the civic body and added that ``the SMC would view these favourably'' during the meeting on Friday. And the BPMC had made provisions for a civic body to spend money even outside its jurisdiction, he stated.

Additional Collector R J Patel, who was SUDA CEO earlier and had taken a keen interest in the development of areas around Dumas, welcomed the move.