Dholera Smart City

Dholera Smart City, India’s first greenfield smart city, is a high-tech urban hub being developed in Gujarat under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Spanning 920 square kilometers, it is planned as a self-sustaining industrial and residential city with world-class infrastructure, renewable energy, and advanced technology integration. Dholera aims to attract global businesses, boost manufacturing, and create thousands of jobs, positioning itself as a key driver of India’s economic growth and urbanization strategy. The city features intelligent traffic systems, water recycling, and a state-of-the-art airport, emphasizing sustainability and smart governance. While ambitious, challenges include slow land acquisition, infrastructure rollout, and attracting early investors, but if successful, Dholera could set a new benchmark for India’s future urban development.

Dholera is a true new city, not just a district. It is being developed as India’s first greenfield smart city, built from scratch under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). Unlike an urban district, which expands an existing city, Dholera is planned as a self-sustaining urban center with residential, commercial, industrial, and technological zones across 920 square kilometers.

Designed as a high-tech, eco-friendly city, Dholera integrates smart infrastructure, renewable energy, and transit-oriented development, including a dedicated airport and metro system. Though still in early phases, it is expected to become a major industrial and logistics hub. Its success will depend on infrastructure investment, economic demand, and population growth, but it is fundamentally a new city development.

Dholera hasn’t failed, but it hasn’t ignited yet either. If industries, residents, and investors commit, it could become India’s first true smart city, but as of now, it remains a long-term experiment in urban planning.

Strengths:

• India’s First Greenfield Smart City – Dholera is the flagship project of India’s Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), designed to be a high-tech, sustainable urban and industrial hub.
• Strong Government Support & Investment – Backed by the Indian government and Gujarat state, with ongoing investment in infrastructure, transport, and utilities.
• Industrial & Economic Growth Plans – The city is attracting early-stage investments in manufacturing, logistics, and technology, with a dedicated Special Investment Region (SIR).
• Well-Planned Infrastructure – Features wide roads, a smart grid, an international airport in development, and connectivity via expressways and high-speed rail.

Challenges:

• Still Largely Underpopulated – Despite infrastructure progress, Dholera remains mostly uninhabited, as industries and businesses have yet to fully relocate.
• Slow Pace of Private Investment – While the government is building the city, private-sector interest is taking longer than expected, slowing economic activity.
• Comparison to Other Indian Cities – Unlike Ahmedabad or Bengaluru, Dholera lacks an established talent and corporate ecosystem, making it harder to compete.
• Skepticism & Delayed Timelines – Critics argue that Dholera is overhyped and that its transformation into a fully functioning city could take decades.