The History of Dholera: From Ancient Port to...
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Dholera Activation Area: The 22.5 sq. km Demonstration Zone
What is the Activation Area?
The Activation Area is the fundamental starting point and core functional unit of the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR), designed to kick-start the city's economic and urban development. It covers 22.5 square kilometers, approximately 5% of the total developable area, and serves as a fully functional microcosm and demonstration model of what the entire Dholera Smart City will become.
Strategic Location
The Activation Area is strategically located within Town Planning Schemes TP2 (West) and TP4, chosen based on immediate land availability and high potential for rapid commencement of site work. It is directly connected to the Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway (under construction) and is adjacent to the proposed Dholera International Airport.
Complete Plug-and-Play Infrastructure
The government has prioritized resources to ensure all essential trunk infrastructure within this zone is complete:
- Road Network: 72 km of wide roads (12m to 70m wide) with street lighting
- Power Grid: 220/33kV substation with underground cabling and redundant supply
- Water Management: 50 MLD Water Treatment Plant with 135 km pipeline network
- Waste Management: 20 MLD Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) for zero-discharge, 10 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP)
- ICT Infrastructure: Fiber optic network for smart city applications
- Flood Management: Adhiya River Bunding completed for resilience
- Command Centre: Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) for real-time monitoring
Land Use Distribution
- Industrial Use: Up to 47% (semiconductor, electronics, manufacturing)
- Residential: Up to 28% (projected 1.2 lakh residents, 80,000 employees)
- Commercial & Institutional: 18% (business districts, education, healthcare)
- Green Spaces & Recreation: 7% (parks, canal front development)
Completed Projects within Activation Area
- ABCD Building (Administration and Business Centre): 36,000 sq. meters - fully operational command center
- Business and Exhibition Centre (BEC): Inside ABCD Complex for investor engagement
- Experience Zone: High-tech interactive display with projection mapping
- Canal Front Development: 6 km scenic riverfront with promenades (Zone 2 and 3 complete)
- Tata Semiconductor Plant: Anchor investment in TP2 industrial zone
- ReNew Power Solar Cell Plant: Manufacturing facility in Green Energy Zone
- INOX Air Products Hub: Electronic Specialty Gas Hub for semiconductor industry
Current Status (as of late 2025)
The Activation Area infrastructure is reported to be over 95% complete, with the following achievements:
- Ahmedabad-Dholera Expressway 98% complete (45-minute commute to Ahmedabad)
- Dholera International Airport Phase 1 on track for completion (December 2025)
- All utilities operational for "plug-and-play" investment
- Multiple anchor industries secured (Tata, ReNew, Jabil, INOX)
- Social infrastructure (hospital, school) under construction (completion June 2026)
Future Vision
The successful activation of this 22.5 sq. km zone is key to triggering further investment across the entire 920 sq. km Dholera SIR project. By demonstrating functional smart city infrastructure and attracting anchor industries, the Activation Area proves the viability of Dholera's vision and sets the standard for remaining phases (TP1, TP3, TP5, TP6).
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