India’s first greenfield smart industrial city is beginning to attract global urban design participation, signalling a shift in how large-scale townships are being planned along emerging industrial corridors. An integrated mixed-use township proposed within the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) has appointed an international architecture practice to shape its master planning and built form, reflecting rising expectations around sustainability, density management and long-term liveability in new cities.
The township, planned across a substantial development footprint, is envisioned as a phased urban ecosystem combining residential, commercial, hospitality and social infrastructure. Industry observers note that such integrated formats are increasingly seen as essential for greenfield industrial regions, where housing, services and employment must scale simultaneously to avoid dormitory-style urban sprawl. According to project disclosures, the overall development is expected to involve construction running into several tens of millions of square feet, with an estimated capital outlay of around Rs 2,000 crore over multiple phases. Initial phases have already moved into construction, while subsequent stages now under international design supervision are expected to commence shortly, with completion targeted towards the end of the decade. Urban planners say the engagement of a foreign architectural firm for a Dholera-based project is notable, given the region’s strategic importance within the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. While Indian firms have led most developments in the area so far, international participation introduces alternative approaches to land use optimisation, climate-responsive design and long-horizon infrastructure planning.
Dholera SIR has been positioned by policymakers as a testbed for next-generation urban and industrial development. Planned as a self-contained city, it is being built with dedicated freight corridors, expressway links, advanced utility networks and a forthcoming international airport. The scale of public investment has begun to attract anchor industries, particularly in advanced manufacturing, clean energy and electronics. The township is expected to support this industrial base by providing structured housing supply, commercial spaces and civic amenities for a growing workforce. Analysts caution, however, that the success of such developments will depend on execution discipline and the ability to synchronise private real estate delivery with public infrastructure readiness. From a sustainability perspective, large greenfield townships face both opportunity and scrutiny. Thoughtful planning can reduce long-term carbon intensity through compact design, walkable neighbourhoods and renewable energy integration. At the same time, the environmental footprint of large-scale construction remains a key concern, particularly in ecologically sensitive regions of Gujarat’s coastal belt. Real estate experts say that Dholera’s evolution will be closely watched by planners across India, as several states explore similar smart city and industrial node models.
Integrated townships that genuinely balance economic growth with environmental resilience could set benchmarks for future urban expansion beyond legacy metros. As Dholera transitions from blueprint to lived city, developments of this scale will play a defining role in shaping not just its skyline, but its social and economic fabric over the coming decades.
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