Anirudh Singh

The current permanent population of the Dholera Special Investment Region is very small, likely consisting of only a few thousand people living in the original village areas. While the project is designed to eventually hold 2 million people, it is currently a massive construction site rather than a finished city where people live and work in large numbers. My Life Watching Cities Grow I have been in the real estate game for over 50 years now. I remember when parts of Gurgaon were just empty fields where cows grazed and nobody wanted to buy land. I saw the same thing happen in Navi Mumbai. People always ask me the same question: “How many people live there right now?” They ask because they are scared. They don’t want to be the only ones standing in a ghost town. But you have to understand that a Smart City like Dholera is built in stages. You cannot move into a house if the water pipes are still being laid under the road. Breaking Down the Numbers When we talk about population in a place like this, we have to look at three different groups of people. It is not just one simple number. Why the Number Feels Small I talked to a young fellow last month who was upset because he didn’t see any malls or schools full of kids. I told him he was looking for a finished cake when the oven is still pre-heating. A Warning From an Old Man Don’t let anyone sell you a dream by lying about the population. If a broker tells you there are already 100,000 people living in new apartments, he is a liar. I have seen many people lose their life savings because they believed a smooth talker. Always check the Gujarat RERA website before you put down a single rupee. I have watched cities grow from dust, and it takes time. Dholera is currently a “work in progress.” It is a giant machine being built, and the people will only come once the machine starts running. If you want to live there today, you will be very lonely. But if you want to own a piece of the future, you have to be okay with the fact that the current population is mostly workers and a few thousand villagers. That is the honest truth from someone who has seen it all.

Yes, people are already living in the GIFT City residential towers today, but the area is still growing. You can move into completed apartments right now, though many other buildings are still just big piles of bricks and steel. My Life in the Dirt and Bricks I have been looking at buildings and dirt for over fifty years. When I started back in the 1970s, most of the places people live in now were just open fields. I remember walking through construction sites when I was young, getting my shoes ruined by mud. I have watched cities grow from nothing. When people ask if they can live in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City, they usually think it is just a big office park. But it is not. It is a real place where people sleep, eat, and go for walks. I have sat in the living rooms of the early birds who moved there first. It feels different than a normal city. It is very quiet. Is it ready for you? Here is what you need to know if you want to pack your bags today: Why being first is scary and smart I have seen people lose their life savings because they bought a “dream” that never got built. I have seen “piece of trash” buildings fall apart in ten years because the builder was lazy. But GIFT City is different because the government is watching it very closely. If you look at the Gujarat Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) website, you can see which buildings are safe. I always tell people: Check the ID of the building before you give them a single rupee. I have spent half a century telling folks to be careful. Do not let a fancy brochure fool you. What it feels like today Living there right now feels like being on a movie set before the actors arrive. The roads are perfect. The lights work. The water is clean. But there are not many people on the sidewalks yet. My honest advice If you are a young worker or a smart investor, it is a great time. If you are an older person who needs a hospital right next door and ten different grocery stores, you might want to wait. I have watched cities like this fail and I have watched them win. This one feels like a winner, but it is still a baby. You can live there, yes. Just bring a bit of patience with your luggage. The bones of the city are strong, but the skin is still being put on. Always talk to a lawyer before signing anything. I have seen too many people cry in Sub-Registrar offices because they did not read the fine print. Be smart. Stay safe. Move in only if you like being a pioneer.

Dholera is a great choice for families who want to invest in the future, but it is not ready for you to move in with your kids today. It is a massive project that will take years to finish, so it is better for long-term growth than for immediate living. My Life in Real Estate I have been looking at land and buildings for over 50 years now. When I started back in the 1970s, I saw places that were just dirt and rocks turn into huge cities. I remember how people laughed at the idea of certain suburbs becoming popular, and now those people wish they had bought a single inch of land there. I have walked the dusty ground of the Dholera Special Investment Region many times. It reminds me of the early days of other big cities. But you have to be smart. You cannot just listen to a salesman who wants your money. You have to look at the ground reality. Why Families Might Like It Later Families need schools, hospitals, and parks. Right now, Dholera is mostly big roads and underground pipes. The Problems You Must Know I don’t want you to lose your hard-earned savings. I have seen too many families cry because they bought bad land. My Final Advice for Parents If you have extra money and want to leave something for your kids, buy a plot and wait. It is like planting a tree. You won’t get shade today, but your children will. If you need a house to move into next month because your wife wants a big kitchen and the kids need a playground, Dholera is not for you yet. Stick to the developed parts of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor or established cities. Be patient, stay sharp, and always double check the paperwork at the Sub-Registrar office before you sign anything.

Yes, malls are planned for this area, but you must look at the official papers to be sure.Many people ask me if a new mall is coming because they want their house value to go up, but you have to be very careful with what builders tell you. My life looking at buildings I have been working in real estate for over 50 years now. I started back when we used paper maps and long measuring tapes. I have watched cities grow from empty dirt fields into giant places with lights and shops. In the 1970s, we did not have these huge fancy malls. We just had small shops on the corner. When a builder says a mall is coming, it sounds like a dream. Everyone wants to live near a place where they can buy popcorn and watch a movie. But I have seen many people lose their money because they believed a colorful poster instead of a legal paper. How to know if the mall is real You cannot just listen to a salesman. They want your money. You have to be like a detective. Here is how I check if a mall is actually planned: Why malls sometimes never happen I have seen many “planned” malls turn into big holes in the ground that stay empty for ten years. Sometimes the builder runs out of cash. Other times, they did not get the right Environmental Clearance from the government. If the mall is meant for a fancy area near an Indian Embassy, the rules are even stricter. Security and traffic are big deals. If the builder did not plan for enough car parking, the city might tell them no at the last minute. My advice to you Do not pay extra money for a flat just because someone promised a mall. Only pay for what you can see with your own eyes today. If the mall happens, that is a nice surprise. If it does not, you should still be happy with your house. I have seen too many older folks put their life savings into a “future mall area” only to find out it was a lie. It breaks my heart. Please, be smart. Ask for the Title Deed and make sure the land is clear. If you see a big sign that says “Mall Coming Soon,” treat it like a storybook until you see the legal stamps. Real estate is about facts, not just pretty pictures. Use your head and keep your wallet closed until the papers are 100 percent correct.

Yes, there are hospitals planned for the area, but you must check if they are part of the master plan or just a promise by the builder. Most new big projects have space set aside for medical clinics and healthcare infrastructure to make sure people stay safe. My Life in Real Estate I have been looking at buildings and dirt for over 50 years. When I started back in the 1970s, we did not have fancy websites. We had to walk through the mud and look at paper maps. I have seen many people buy houses because a salesman told them a big hospital would be built next door. Sometimes it happened. Many times, it was just a dream that never came true. It makes me sad when I see young families lose their money. They move into a new house and then find out the nearest doctor is one hour away. I don’t want that to happen to you. You need to be a smart detective before you sign any papers. How to Check if the Hospital is Real Why Hospitals Change Everything A house near a hospital is worth more money. It is called capital appreciation. But there is a catch. If you live right next to the emergency gate, you will hear sirens all night. It is noisy. I once bought a small flat near a big clinic in the city. I thought it was a great idea. But the traffic was so bad I could not get my own car out of the driveway! My Final Advice for You I have watched cities grow from nothing. I have seen forests turn into big towers. The best advice I can give a young person today is to use your eyes, not just your ears. If you don’t see a foundation being dug for that hospital, assume it is not coming for a long time. Stay safe and keep your savings protected.

Buying a home in a new project is like a big puzzle, but schools are the most important piece. Yes, schools are usually planned in these big townships, but you have to check if they are just drawings on a map or real buildings that will actually open. My Fifty Years in the Dirt I have been looking at buildings since the 1970s. Back then, we did not have fancy websites. We just had a guy with a rolled-up paper map and a lot of promises. I have seen many families move into a shiny new house, only to realize the nearest school is a two hour bus ride away. That makes the kids tired and the parents stressed. It is a mistake that can ruin the joy of a new home. I have watched cities grow from empty fields into crowded streets. When a builder says a school is planned, it usually means they have set aside a piece of land for it. But setting aside land is not the same as hiring teachers or buying desks. You need to look closer so you do not lose your mind later. How to Check the Plan Why Builders Promise Schools Builders know that parents will pay more money for a house if a school is nearby. It is a marketing trick sometimes. They show you a picture of happy kids with backpacks, but they do not tell you that the school will only be built in Phase 4, which might be ten years from now. I remember a project in the late 90s where the “school land” ended up becoming a grocery store because the builder changed his mind. You have to be careful. If the school is a big part of why you are buying, get it in writing. My Honest Advice Do not just listen to the young salesman in the suit. He wants his commission. Talk to the older folks who already moved into the first phase. Ask them if the builder kept his other promises. If the park is a mess and the clubhouse is closed, the school will probably be a mess too. A house is where you sleep, but a neighborhood is where you live. A school is the heart of that neighborhood. If there is no heart, the project is just a bunch of bricks. Be smart, ask the hard questions, and protect your money. Does the builder have a specific date for when the school starts taking students?

Dholera is not ready for people to move in and live there right now. If you are looking for a house to stay in today with schools and shops nearby, you will find mostly empty land and big construction machines. The big picture of the city I have been looking at land and buildings for over fifty years. I started back when many of the big cities you see today were just dirt paths and trees. I have seen how cities are born. It takes a long time. It is like planting a tree. You cannot expect fruit the next day. The Dholera Special Investment Region is a very big plan by the government. It is supposed to be a smart city. But a smart city needs more than just fancy wires underground. It needs people. Why you cannot live there yet When I was a young man in the 1970s, I saw people buy land in places that were far away. Some got rich, but many had to wait thirty years. Dholera is in the waiting stage. You cannot just go to a grocery store and buy milk there. There are no hospitals for your grandma or schools for your kids. What should you look for? I have watched many people lose their life savings because they got too excited. Do not let the fancy brochures fool you. You must look at the ground with your own eyes. My final thoughts after 50 years I want to help you keep your money safe. Dholera will likely be a great city one day. Maybe in ten or fifteen years, it will be full of life. But today, it is just a dream on a piece of paper and some concrete in the dirt. If you are a young person with extra money and you do not need it for a long time, maybe you buy a small piece of land. But if you want a home for your family to live in right now, look somewhere else. A house is only a home when the lights are on and the neighbors are talking. Dholera is still very quiet. Real estate development is a slow game. Do not rush into a place that is not ready for you.

Dholera in 2025 has moved from being just a dream on a map to a real city with big factories and fast roads. It is now the first place in India where companies are actually making computer chips and big machines in a smart, high-tech environment. My Life Watching Cities Grow I started looking at land back in the 1970s when most of India was just dusty roads and small farms. Over fifty years, I have seen cities like Gurgaon and Noida turn from empty fields into concrete jungles. Dholera is different. I have spent the last decade reading every legal document and government notification about this place. Most people just look at the shiny pictures, but I look at the ground. When I visited the site recently, I did not see the usual mess of Indian construction. I saw planned perfection. It reminded me of how we used to dream of the future when I was a young boy. It is not just about buildings anymore; it is about a foundation that will last for a hundred years. The Big Updates You Need To Know My Advice To You I have seen many people lose their life savings because they were greedy or lazy. Real estate is not a game for children. You must be very careful. Why 2025 Is Different In the past, people said Dholera was a ghost city. They laughed at the idea. But as an old man who has seen many projects fail, I can tell you that the laughter is stopping. The heavy machines are there. The industrial smart city is actually breathing now. If you are looking at Dholera, do not just listen to brokers who want a commission. Read the official government master plan. Look at the industrial milestones. This project is finally crossing the line from “maybe” to “definitely.” Just remember to keep your eyes open and your heart calm. Don’t rush, but don’t ignore the progress either.

Yes, Phase 2 is officially under construction, but you need to look at the ground reality rather than just the glossy brochures. Work started late last year after the Real Estate Regulatory Authority gave the green light, and the heavy machinery is now on-site. My 50 years of watching buildings rise I have been in this game since the 1970s. Back then, we didn’t have fancy websites or apps to check on progress. We had to put on our boots, walk into the mud, and see if the workers were actually pouring concrete. I have seen many people lose their life savings because they believed a salesman instead of their own eyes. When I visited the site for Phase 2 last week, I didn’t just look at the gates. I looked at the foundation pits. That is where the truth stays. If the basement isn’t deep and the steel isn’t high-quality, the building is a piece of trash. Right now, they are finishing the sub-structure work, which is the most important part. Why you should care about the timeline How to tell if they are lying to you I always tell my younger friends to be careful. A site can look busy today and be empty tomorrow. You must check the Quarterly Progress Reports that the law says they have to post online. If you see the same photos two months in a row, something is wrong. In my decades of experience, I have watched cities grow from dirt roads to giant towers. Phase 2 is part of that growth. The heavy cranes are moving, and the labor camps are full. This means the builder has the money to keep going for now. What to do before you pay money I have seen the heartbreaks and the victories in real estate. Buying a home in a project that is just starting is scary. But from what I see on the ground, the workers are sweating and the bricks are piling up. It is real. Just keep your eyes open and do not let a smooth talker rush you into signing a check.

The construction progress in 2025 is a mixed bag because some builders are finishing fast with new tech while others are stuck waiting for materials. Most big projects are now in the final finishing stage, which means they are painting walls and fixing lights instead of just pouring heavy concrete. My Life in the Dust and Bricks I have been looking at buildings since 1975. Back then, we used basic tools and things took forever. Now, I see huge cranes and machines that work through the night. But even with fancy robots, I have learned one thing after fifty years. A building is only as good as the person holding the money. In 2025, I visited several sites. Some look like ghosts because the money ran out. Others look like busy beehives. If you are waiting for your home, you need to look at the Occupancy Certificate status. That is the only paper that really matters when the dust settles. What is Actually Happening on Site Why Some Projects Are Slow I remember a project in the 1980s where we ran out of cement for a whole year. Today, the problem is not cement. It is specialized labor. We have plenty of people to move bricks, but not enough people who know how to fix the smart home systems. I tell my younger friends to stop looking at the pretty pictures in the brochure. Go to the site. If you see only five workers, the project is in trouble. If you see fifty workers and hear loud banging, they are doing well. Construction progress is something you feel in your ears and see on your boots. Things You Must Check Right Now I have watched cities grow from empty fields into concrete jungles. It breaks my heart when someone loses their life savings because a builder lied about “progress.” In 2025, the buildings are taller, but the tricks are the same. Stay sharp and do not believe everything a salesman tells you. Walk the floors yourself. Smell the paint. If it smells like a finished home, you are almost there. If it still smells like wet mud, you need to wait. How long has your specific builder been saying that the project is “90% finished”?