Dholera Smart City: India’s Groundbreaking Urban Revolution Unfolds

The Vision of Dholera: India’s First Greenfield Smart City

Envisioned as a cornerstone of India’s urban future, Dholera Smart City represents an unprecedented leap in sustainable development. Located approximately 100 kilometers southwest of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, this ambitious project spans 920 square kilometers – making it nearly twice the size of Mumbai. Conceived under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) initiative, Dholera aims to become a global manufacturing and trading hub powered by cutting-edge technology and eco-conscious design. Unlike retrofitted smart cities, Dholera’s greenfield status allows planners to embed intelligence from the ground up, integrating IoT-enabled utilities, automated waste management, and renewable energy microgrids into its core infrastructure.

The city’s master plan features six distinct townships centered around a vibrant central business district, all interconnected by a smart mobility network. A highlight is the 22-kilometer-long Dholera Expressway, drastically reducing travel time to Ahmedabad and enhancing regional connectivity. Water security is addressed through a dedicated canal from the Narmada River, while flood resilience is ensured by elevating the entire city 3-5 meters above sea level. Designed to accommodate 2 million residents upon full completion, Dholera prioritizes walkability, green spaces covering 17% of its area, and solar-powered public amenities. This holistic approach positions it not just as an industrial powerhouse but as a model for future habitation, balancing economic dynamism with environmental stewardship.

Investor interest continues to surge, with allocations exceeding ₹1 trillion across sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and logistics. The development authority’s transparent land acquisition process and single-window clearance system further streamline business operations. As the first Special Investment Zone under the DMIC, Dholera sets new benchmarks for integrated planning, demonstrating how technology can harmonize urbanization with ecological preservation.

Dholera SIR: Unleashing Economic Potential Through Strategic Design

At the heart of Dholera’s transformative potential lies its designation as a Special Investment Region (SIR), governed by the unique Dholera SIR Act of 2009. This legal framework empowers the Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority (DSIRDA) with unprecedented autonomy in planning, land management, and infrastructure development. The SIR spans 920 sq km, with 422 sq km earmarked as an activation area for priority development. This zone offers world-class industrial infrastructure: 100% power reliability through dedicated substations, high-capacity fiber optic networks, and plug-and-play industrial clusters with pre-approved environmental clearances.

The SIR’s strategic location within the DMIC – just 50km from the upcoming Dholera International Airport and connected to the Dedicated Freight Corridor – creates unparalleled logistics advantages. Industries benefit from zero-stamp duty, 100% exemption on electricity duty for 10 years, and reimbursement of GST for 5 years. Key sectors targeted include aerospace, robotics, renewable energy, and semiconductor manufacturing. Major corporations like Tata Group, Suzuki, and Rosoboronexport have already secured land parcels, signaling strong market confidence. The development features a phased rollout, with Phase-1 (covering 22.5 sq km) nearing completion of essential trunk infrastructure including roads, water treatment plants, and stormwater drainage systems.

Urban planning innovations include underground utility corridors eliminating road-digging disruptions and a central command center monitoring real-time data from city-wide sensors. Residential zones adjacent to industrial clusters ensure workforce proximity, while social infrastructure like hospitals and international schools enhance livability. The DSIRDA’s master plan reserves 11% of land for affordable housing, ensuring inclusive growth. This integrated approach transforms Dholera SIR into more than an industrial zone – it’s a blueprint for future-ready economic ecosystems where productivity, sustainability, and community welfare converge seamlessly.

Infrastructure Milestones and Transformative Connectivity

Dholera’s metamorphosis from blueprint to reality is accelerating with visible infrastructure milestones. The Dholera International Airport, being developed in collaboration with Airbus, is poised to become Gujarat’s largest aviation hub. Its strategic location near the SIR will facilitate cargo movement for export-oriented industries, with Phase-1 targeting 3 million passengers annually. Simultaneously, the 109-km Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway is 75% complete, promising to slash travel time between the two cities to just 90 minutes. This six-lane access-controlled corridor will integrate with the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, positioning Dholera at a critical national logistics crossroads.

Utilities infrastructure showcases remarkable progress: a 350 MLD water treatment plant, 80km of completed stormwater drains, and a 50MW solar power plant operational since 2020. The city’s digital backbone features India’s first common duct policy, consolidating fiber optics, electricity cables, and utility lines in underground tunnels for easy maintenance. Recent tenders awarded for sewage treatment plants and district cooling systems indicate momentum in essential services. For those tracking implementation timelines, the latest dholera smart city project update reveals Phase-1 infrastructure will be fully operational by 2025, with industrial plots already allocated to 52 companies.

Connectivity extends beyond physical networks. The Dholera-Ahmedabad corridor is evolving into a knowledge and innovation axis, with Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City) serving as a complementary financial hub. Proposed metro links and regional rapid transit systems (RRTS) will further integrate Dholera with the Ahmedabad metropolitan region, creating a cohesive economic megazone. These developments collectively transform Dholera from a remote location into a globally accessible investment destination, proving that strategic infrastructure is the catalyst for realizing India’s $5 trillion economy vision.