Surat To Set Up India’s First Dedicated Textile Crime Police Station
Surat is set to establish what is being described as India’s first dedicated police station focused exclusively on textile industry-related crimes, aimed at tackling rising cases of fraud, payment defaults and trading irregularities in the country’s largest textile hub.
The proposed textile police station will be located in the Salabatpura market area and will deploy specially trained personnel to handle offences linked to the textile trade, including fly-by-night operators, non-payment cases and fabric theft. The unit will also maintain detailed records of traders, brokers and middlemen to help identify and track repeat offenders.
Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut said the initiative is the first of its kind in the country and is designed to address crimes that often span multiple states, requiring faster coordination and specialised handling.
According to the Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association (FOSTTA), the city’s textile industry records an annual turnover of around ₹1.5 lakh crore, with sarees and dress materials supplied across India through a vast trading network. The sector comprises over 75,000 trading shops across 220 markets and supports more than 15 lakh livelihoods.
However, industry sources estimate annual losses of around ₹500 crore due to fraudulent operators. Police officials also said Surat receives nearly 2,500 cheating-related complaints from textile traders each year, many of which are currently resolved through mediation before formal cases are registered.
The Surat Municipal Corporation has identified a 1,000 sq ft site in Dumbhal near Ring Road markets for the facility, with the land allocation process underway. The station will cover key textile hubs including Salabatpura, Varachha, Madhidharpura, Saroli and Udhna.
