Surat: A new fish market in Surat has become the centre of a controversy after a signboard carrying Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s name was put up even though the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) had not officially approved the naming.
The market, located in the Nanpura Lakkadkot area, was built by the civic body at a cost of around rs 3.90 crore. The signboard at the entrance reads “Shri Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market” and also features the Prime Minister’s photograph.
The SMC has made it clear that the market has not officially been named after Modi. Civic officials said no formal resolution or approval had been passed to give the municipal property his name. The project was also listed in civic records simply as a fish market.
According to reports, the Surat Fish Merchant Association had submitted a request to name the market after Modi. However, the traders reportedly put up the signboard before the civic authorities completed the formal process.
Municipal officials later visited the market over the unauthorised board. Following the visit, traders said they would remove the signboard themselves.
The association, however, has defended the decision. Its president, Kalpesh Navsariwala, said the traders had passed their own resolution in favour of naming the market after Modi. He said the Prime Minister had supported the fisheries sector through government schemes, particularly the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana. The Centre reportedly contributed around rs 3 crore towards the project, with the remaining amount coming from the civic body.
But not everyone in the fishing community is happy with the decision.
Fish merchant Surendra Laskari questioned why a fish market should be named after Modi and pointed out that the Prime Minister is a vegetarian. He suggested that the market should instead be named after the traditional Kahar Machi fishing community, which has long been associated with fishing in the area.
The market is also facing complaints unrelated to its name. Traders have reportedly raised concerns about poor drainage and waterlogging around the newly constructed facility, particularly during the monsoon.
For now, the controversy is less about an officially approved name and more about a name appearing on a public building before the civic approval process was completed. The final decision on whether the market will actually carry Modi’s name rests with the Surat Municipal Corporation.
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