Surat Fish Market Named After PM Modi? Civic Body Says Approval Still Pending

A controversy has erupted in Gujarat’s Surat over the proposed naming of a newly built wholesale fish market after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a section of traders objecting to the move and the civic body clarifying that the name has not yet been officially approved.

A large board carrying the words “Shree Narendra Modi Wholesale Fish Market” and a photograph of the Prime Minister was recently installed at the entrance of the facility at Lakkadkot in the Nanpura area. The market has been constructed by the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

Fish trader Surendra Lashkari opposed the proposed name, arguing that Modi is a vegetarian and should not be associated with a fish market. He said the board should be removed because the Prime Minister has never consumed seafood.

However, Surat Fish Merchant Association (SFMA) president Kalpesh Navsariwala defended the proposal, saying the association had independently passed a resolution to name the market after Modi. He pointed to the Centre’s ₹3 crore grant under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, which contributed towards the project.

Navsariwala said government initiatives had benefited the fishing community and claimed the newly constructed market would provide employment to lakhs of people.

The SMC, however, clarified that the naming process is still underway. Executive Engineer of the Central Zone RD Ganjawala said the association had submitted a written request to the Standing Committee chairman and civic authorities seeking approval for the proposed name.

“The board was put up without an official resolution,” Ganjawala said, adding that the association had been informed about the issue and had verbally assured officials that it would remove the board.

The market has 80 large wholesale stalls and was built at an estimated cost of ₹9–10 crore. The Centre contributed ₹3 crore, while the remaining expenditure was borne by the SMC. The final decision on its name will be taken after completion of the prescribed civic procedure.