Dholera: A Dream City in the Making
The concept of smart cities in India gained momentum in 2015 with the launch of the Smart Cities Mission, focusing mainly on upgrading existing urban centers. But Dholera stands apart—it is not just another smart city; it is India’s first Platinum-Rated Greenfield Industrial Smart City, certified by the Indian Green Building Council. Situated under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Dholera is set to become the largest smart city in India, eventually surpassing even Singapore in size.
The Journey Begins
The vision for Dholera took shape in 2011, with a mission to build a sustainable industrial smart city from the ground up. After extensive studies and environmental assessments, the project received clearance from the Central Government in 2014. By 2016, the Dholera Industrial City Development Limited (DICDL) was formed as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to oversee planning, execution, and governance.
A City Built for the Future
Dholera’s masterplan is designed around three pillars—Live, Play, Work—ensuring a balanced urban ecosystem.
- Live: 40% of the city is dedicated to residential and public utility spaces. Planned neighborhoods, efficient public transport, dedicated cycle tracks, and abundant parks will create a healthy living environment.
- Play: 10% of the land is earmarked for recreation, tourism, art, and culture. Highlights include canal-front developments, theme parks, and community-level green spaces.
- Work: The industrial zone, covering half of the activation area, will feature state-of-the-art plug-and-play infrastructure, ICT-enabled operations, and the walk-to-work concept for maximum productivity.
Phase 1 Development
The first 22.54 sq. km Activation Area is being developed with a mix of 52% industrial, 28% residential, and 4% high-access corridors. Green parks will be within a 400–800 m range of every location, ensuring accessibility and quality of life.
One of Dholera’s landmark projects is a solar park spanning 8,500+ hectares with a total planned capacity of 4,400 MW—of which Tata Power has already implemented 300 MW.
Dholera is not just a city—it’s the blueprint for India’s next-generation industrial and urban development.
