Dholera is called a failure by some because it has taken a very long time to build and many people who bought land there years ago have not seen any profit yet. While the government is building big roads and factories, the city does not have many people living in it today, which makes it look like a “ghost town” to some.
My Life Watching Cities Grow
I have been looking at land and buildings for over fifty years. When I started back in the early , many parts of what we now call big cities were just dusty fields with cows. I have seen projects succeed and I have seen them turn into a piece of trash.
Dholera is a Special Investment Region in Gujarat. It is supposed to be a “Smart City” that is bigger than Singapore. But because it is so big, it moves very slow. I remember talking to a man ten years ago who put all his money there. He is still waiting. That is why the word “failure” comes up so often.
Why People Are Angry
- Empty Land for Years. Most people bought plots expecting a city to pop up in three years. It has been over ten years and most of it is still just flat ground with some new roads.
- The Big Wait. In real estate, time is money. If you put your life savings into a place and you cannot sell it for a profit, you feel like you were tricked.
- Too Much Hype. The marketing was very loud. They promised a futuristic world. When people visit and see mostly dust and a few big buildings, they feel let down.
- No Houses Yet. A city needs shops, schools, and hospitals to be real. Right now, Dholera is mostly for big factories. If you cannot live there, is it really a city?
Is It Actually Failing?
As an old analyst who has seen it all, I have to be fair. A project is not a failure just because it is slow.
- Heavy Lifting is Done. The government has finished the Activation Area. They have put pipes underground and built massive roads that look like they belong in a movie.
- The Big Companies. Huge firms like Tata are building battery factories there. If big bosses are putting billions of dollars into the ground, they must see something we don’t.
- New Connectivity. The new highway from Ahmedabad is almost ready. Once that opens, the “ghost town” might start to wake up.
My Honest Advice
If you are looking at Dholera, you need to be very careful. This is not a place to make “quick money.”
- Check the RERA. Always make sure any land you look at is registered with the Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority. If it is not, run away.
- Long Term Thinking. Only put money there if you do not need it for another fifteen years. This is a game for patient people, not for someone trying to pay for a wedding next year.
- Look at the Industrial Growth. Watch the factories. If the factories start working and hiring thousands of people, then the houses will follow. If the factories stay empty, then the critics are right.
I have watched many people lose their life savings because they followed a dream without looking at the dirt. Dholera is a real project with real cement and real pipes, but it is moving at the speed of a turtle. Whether that makes it a failure or just a very late success depends on how much time you have left to wait. I have seen “failures” turn into gold after twenty years, and I have seen “sure things” disappear into the wind. Just keep your eyes open.
