Surat, one of Gujarat’s bustling cities, is full of iconic landmarks, and the Surat Clock Tower is definitely one of them. Standing tall in the heart of Zampa Bazaar on Raj Marg, it links the Railway Station to Chowk Bazaar and has been a proud symbol of the city for years. But guess what? This historic beauty has stopped ticking. Keep reading to find out what’s happening.
Clock Tower In Surat To Start Working Again
The 80-foot-tall clock tower was built in 1871 and has not been working for many decades. As per The Indian Express, the Surat Municipal Corporation has decided to bring it back to life. Municipal Commissioner M Nagarajan said that the draft budget for 2026–27 includes funds for the clock tower’s repair, restoration, and regular maintenance. He also shared that the civic body will appoint an expert to fix the clock and hand over its operation and upkeep through a contract.
Did you know this clock was built in someone’s memory? A Parsi merchant, Khan Bahadur Burjorjee Mewangee Fraser, built the clock tower in memory of his father, Merwanjee Hormusjee Fraser. He spent Rs 14,000 on its construction to help the local community. During that time, most people could not afford wristwatches or pocket watches, so the clock tower played an important role by helping them know the time.
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How Does This Clock Look?
This clock tower in Surat is too hard to ignore. According to The Indian Express, it stands out because of its tall red-brick structure, which is visible from far away, even to people passing through the area in buses or vehicles. It has four clock dials, each facing a different direction, so people from all sides can easily see the time. Inside the tower, there is a spiral staircase that leads to the upper floor, but it is currently closed to the public.
Even though the clock tower has strong historical and architectural value, it stopped working around 60 to 70 years ago. Since then, the authorities had not taken any steps to restore it. Now, with the new plan in place, the aim is to revive this heritage landmark and protect its importance for future generations.
Surtis! How excited are you to witness the clock at the tower working again? Tell us in the comments below!
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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/ Dhruvmakwana1998