Dholera is India's first greenfield smart city, located in Gujarat under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) spread over 922sq. It is designed as a global centre for industry, innovation, and sustainable urban living with plug-and-play infrastructure, smart government, and connectivity, including an international airport and a highway.

Dholera aims to improve the quality of life in terms of economic sustainability and cultural sensibility. Given this, the Government of Gujarat and DSIRDA have adopted the mechanism of Town Planning Schemes (TPS) to ensure the delivery of serviced land that can benefit the local population and the private sector.

Connectivity of Dholera Smart City

Here’s an overview of how Dholera Smart City is connected to the rest of India (and internationally) via multiple transport modes, along with some of the key infrastructure underway:

1. Road Connectivity

• A major route is the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway, a 4-lane expressway expanded to 6 lanes, which significantly reduced travel time.
• Within the city region, internal arterial roads, wide‑boulevard design, and dedicated utility/transport corridors are part of the plan.

2. Rail / Freight Corridor

• Dholera is planned to be connected with the Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) network, which links major industrial corridors (specifically the Delhi‑Mumbai Industrial Corridor under which Dholera falls).
• Local/regional rail links and a metro rail connecting to Ahmedabad are also envisaged.

3. Air Connectivity

• The Dholera International Airport is a greenfield airport being developed for both domestic & international flights, cargo, and passengers, expected to boost Dholera’s global access.

4. Port / Sea Connectivity

• Dholera global city is well connected to the sea, with nearby ports like Pipavav, Dahej, and Bhavnagar. Because of this, it has become an important center for trade and exports.
• The easy access to these ports helps industries move goods quickly, reduce transport costs, and reach international markets with ease. This strong sea link, along with the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, makes Dholera a great location for businesses and industries to grow.

Progress and Recent Updates (2025)

• Airport completion target: The Dholera International Airport is expected to be completed by December 2025, according to the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
• Activation Area essentially ready: Infrastructure such as roads, water, power, etc., in the Phase‑1 Activation Area shows 95% completion.
• Expressway and road corridors: The Ahmedabad‑Dholera expressway or portions of the expressway, as well as internal arterial roads and central spine roads, are close to completion.

Challenges & Timelines

• The project is being done in multiple phases; complete development is expected to stretch into 2030‑2040 and beyond.
• Land acquisition, regulatory clearances, and ecosystem creation (business, residential) always take time. Implementing smart utilities and making sure they are reliable and maintenance‑ready is no small task.
• Ensuring environmental sustainability (especially given proximity to fragile ecosystems, e.g., coasts, mangroves), balancing industrial growth with ecological protection remains essential.

Conclusion

Dholera represents a bold experiment in building a modern, sustainable, liveable urban habitat from scratch. If executed well, it promises to set benchmarks for India’s future urbanization: efficient infrastructure, connectivity, economic growth, environmental balance, and high quality of life. There are some challenges but the progress to date suggests that Dholera is steadily moving from vision toward reality.