Dholera is one of India’s most ambitious smart city projects, but it is still in the development stage when compared to fully operational global smart cities. In terms of size and planning, it stands tall. In terms of real population and business activity, it still has a long way to go.
I have been studying the Dholera Special Investment Region project for the past few years because many investors keep asking about it. Let me explain this in very simple words.
1. Size Comparison
• Dholera SIR covers around 920 square kilometers. That is very big. Bigger than many cities already built.
• For comparison, Songdo International Business District in South Korea is around 6 square kilometers.
• Masdar City in UAE is around 6 square kilometers too.
• Even parts of Shenzhen in China that were planned as special zones started smaller.
• So in terms of land size, Dholera is massive. Honestly, it feels almost too big when you think practically.
But big land does not automatically mean successful city. That is important to understand.
2. Stage of Development
• Dholera is still under development. Infrastructure is being built in phases.
• Roads, underground utilities, water systems, power grids are being developed in the Activation Area.
• On the other hand, cities like Songdo are already functional. People live there. Offices operate daily. Schools, hospitals, transport systems are active.
• Masdar City has working research institutes and companies.
So here is the honest truth.
Dholera is a future promise.
Global smart cities are present reality.
3. Technology and Smart Features
• Dholera is planned with underground utility tunnels. This means electricity, water, internet lines will go below ground.
• It aims for ICT based governance, smart traffic systems, and automated waste management.
• Songdo already has smart waste disposal where trash travels through underground pipes.
• Singapore uses advanced traffic management and real time data systems city wide.
So on paper, Dholera matches global standards.
But implementation is what matters.
Right now, global cities are ahead because they are operating systems, not just blueprints.
4. Government Support
• Dholera is backed by the Government of Gujarat and supported under the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor program.
• This gives it strong policy support.
• Cities like Shenzhen also grew because of strong government backing.
From my experience studying Indian infrastructure projects, government support is a big positive sign. But execution speed in India can be slower compared to East Asia.
5. Investment and Business Ecosystem
• Global smart cities attract multinational companies, startups, universities.
• Songdo hosts international firms and global institutions.
• Dholera is trying to attract manufacturing, electronics, defense, semiconductor industries.
• The upcoming Dholera International Airport is expected to improve connectivity.
But today, the number of operational industries in Dholera is still limited. That is a practical reality investors should know.
6. Population and Lifestyle
• Smart cities are not just about technology. They are about people.
• Global smart cities already have residential communities, schools, hospitals, malls.
• Dholera currently has very limited residential life inside the core smart area.
I personally feel this is the biggest gap right now.
Without people, a city cannot feel alive.
