India’s first smart city, Dholera SIR, is more than a plan today; it’s in a developing phase. There has been a lot happening at that front. Due to the Government’s supervision and dedicated developers, the barren land of Dholera is now rapidly advancing to become the first greenfield city. The city will accommodate renewable green energy, high-tech infrastructure, modern manufacturing industries, and smart city operations.
The development of the city has been divided into different stages for the timely execution of the designed plan. The first phase of growth is expected to be fully functional by 2025-26. For any smart city, connectivity becomes the lifeline that helps in the economic development of that area.
Infrastructure and other utilities like roads and residential essentials are largely completed, the airport will be completed by 2025, and the Dholera-Ahmedabad express highway is in progress. Precisely, the city is building at a momentum speed which is absolutely fantastic!
Dholera Smart City: Latest Updates of City Development in December 2025
The lifeline for any smart city is smooth connectivity which helps in its economic development. To ensure that Dholera Smart City is well-connected, the following infrastructural developments have been in progress:
Express Highway
The highways connecting Ahmedabad to Dholera will be completely functional very soon; the work is nearing completion. The 109 km four-lane Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway, reducing travel time from Ahmedabad to Dholera to 1.5 hours, has been designed with an 8 to 12-lane expansion plan. This highway is being built considering international standards with proper service lanes and all the safety features.
One of the best things about this highway is its connection to the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. This means that the industrial hubs of Dholera can receive raw materials faster and send finished goods to the market more quickly and easily. It means residents and investors can easily travel from here as it's well-connected to major cities.
International Airport
To facilitate international trade and for the ease of commutation of international delegates, Dholera International Airport is under construction, near Navagam, and is expected to be completed by December 2025, with cargo operations planned in advance and then focus on passenger service. Phase 1 will handle 1.5 million passengers annually, with plans to eventually scale up to 50 million.
The airport sits about 80 km from Ahmedabad and will serve both the Dholera Special Investment Region and help ease congestion at Ahmedabad's existing airport. The cargo terminal is ready, and recent Site visits by the Gujarat Chief Minister show how seriously the state is pushing this forward to ensure everything is executed as planned.
Metro rail
The discussion for having metro rail services is ongoing in order to reduce the commuting time of people who are expected to work in the upcoming manufacturing units.
Other amenities: Water, Power & Waste Management
The success of a smart city is not only based on roads and connectivity, but also on the availability of essential services. Utility planning for Dholera goes with a strong emphasis on sustainability and technology integration.
Water Supply
The facilities in Phase 1 include the water treatment plant of 50 MLD, elevated reservoirs, and a sewage treatment plant (STP) of 10 MLD to assure safe water for residential, commercial, and industrial use.
Waste Management
A common effluent treatment plant of 20 MLD ensures treated industrial wastewater is discharged, therefore, responding to environmental sustainability.
Power Infrastructure
The ultra-mega solar park of 4,400 MW supplies the city with power through GUVNL and a 300 MW solar PV plant by TATA Power, commissioned in 2022. Underground power and communication lines are being laid to reduce inconvenience caused during maintenance and to ensure a strong electrical network.
Intelligent Monitoring Over City Administration
Emphasis on smart monitoring through the City Integrated Operations Center ensures that water, power, and waste management systems are operational and optimized for efficiency to reduce wastage and further improve the quality of the services.
To have a proper town setup with all the facilities that would foster an environment for the people residing and working in this smart city, a lot of facilities are being planned and executed. The interior roads, which would be required for daily transportation and mobility, are being planned with proper sewage management systems to ensure that proper hygiene can be maintained and rainwater logging can be eliminated. The underground power and communication channels are being included in these plans to avoid the frequent digging of the areas for any maintenance activity.
Renewable Energy and Solar Park
India's first smart city that will be operating on renewable energy is all set to host one of Asia's largest solar parks, spanning approximately 5,000 hectares with a targeted capacity of 5,000 MW.
This commitment and infrastructure demonstrate Dholera's readiness to meet future energy demands through clean sources and its sincere dedication to reducing its carbon footprint. The city will also ensure that electric vehicles are used in the Dholera smart city to reduce air and noise pollution and make the city clean and peaceful for the residents.
TATA Power has played an immense role here with the speed and technology by ensuring that its 300 MW solar PV plant (the largest single-axis tracker in India) became functional in April 2022, making it the first solar plant in Dholera city. The Dholera Solar Park is planned for a 5 GW capacity by 2030.
As per Dholera city's master plan, renewable energy integration in buildings and industries is mandatory, including rooftop solar installations. With abundant sunshine throughout the year and progressive policies supporting green energy, Dholera exemplifies how modern urban planning can harmonize industrial growth with environmental responsibility.
Emerging Industries & Logistics Hub
The strategic location of Dholera, being located between Ahmedabad and Bhavnagar, has attracted many industries and investors. Dholera is well connected to the dedicated freight corridors and ports, which makes it an ideal location for becoming a central logistics and industrial hub.
The city has already received investors from reputed global companies like Linde, Fujifilm, Hitachi, and many more have laid their foundation in Dholera. These companies are from varied sectors like automotive, electronics, andthe pharma sectors, which further solidifies Dholera's potential.
The upcoming international airport will enhance its connectivity. The city developers are actively building the roads, utilities, and facilities that industries need to set up and thrive here.
ReNew Power, Hindustan Petroleum, Tata Chemicals, Torrent Power, and others are setting up plant and utility infrastructure in the Activation Area.
The multi-modal logistics hub, integrated with DMIC, is already attracting investments from logistics and production firms.
Residential & Commercial Growth
Housing plotted schemes, smart housing, reasonable homes, commercial towers, IT parks, and amusement areas are in progress. NRI and initial-stage investors are eagerly booking plots in TP-schemes (TP1-TP5), with mixed-use zones starting to emerge.
Expats employed in the semiconductor zone will be supported by a planned "Global Tent City" including international cultural and food streets tailored for global talent.
Services which have started and some which are about to begin:
- Initiation Area: roads, utilities, business land ready for rentals
- Solar PV plant (Tata Power) and CETP/STP/WTP operational
- Expressway open, land portions active
- ABCD Building for governance & single-window approvals
Upcoming services:
- Dholera International Airport (expected to be operational by December 2025): The international airport is expected to be operational by December 2025, which will be a game-changer for connectivity.
- First semiconductor fab production by 2026: India's first semiconductor fab, scheduled to start production by 2026—this puts Dholera on the map for high-tech manufacturing.
- NextGen compound semiconductor facility underway: NextGen compound semiconductor facility in the works, showing the city's focus on cutting-edge industries. NextGen has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Gujarat government for setting up a ₹10,000-crore compound semiconductor fab and opto-electronics facility at Dholera.
- Metro/BRT mass transit systems: Metro or BRT mass transit systems are being drawn up to handle the growing population.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, Dholera Smart City is rapidly progressing towards its vision of becoming India's first smart and developed city.
The updates of Dholera's development above show the city has laid its foundation, and now it's constructing the pillars of the city to ensure it becomes fully functional for the city dwellers. The rapid advancement in the infrastructure, technology, and use of renewable energies ensures the city becomes the best place to reside and work in India.
As essential projects come to fruition, Dholera's potential to enhance the quality of life for its residents becomes increasingly evident. Staying informed and engaged in the ongoing developments will be crucial for stakeholders and citizens alike.
