The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) has its main project in Gujarat: Dholera Smart City. It is 920 square kilometers big and is meant to be India’s first greenfield industrial smart city. The city is meant to combine modern infrastructure, industrial centers & ideas for living in a way that doesn’t hurt the environment. The green belt in Dholera Smart City is an important part of the city’s plan to balance economic growth with protecting the environment.
What Is the Green Belt in Dholera Smart City?
The green belt is a set area where development is limited to protect natural areas, increase biodiversity & make the air cleaner. In Dholera, this area is strategically planned to serve as a buffer between areas for business, housing & industry. It is not just for looks; it is also necessary for the environment to make sure that the city’s rapid industrialization does not hurt the health of the ecosystem.
Location and Coverage of the Green Belt
The green belt in Dholera Smart City is spread out across different areas, so every zone can get to green space. It runs along transportation routes, around bodies of water & between big groups of factories. The belt also goes around residential areas to make them healthier, cut down on noise pollution & give people a place to play.
Why Green Belt is Important
Green belts are important for city planning because they:
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Make the air cleaner and less polluted
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Take in CO₂ and act as carbon sinks
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Stop soil erosion and protect water resources.
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Help biodiversity by giving plants and animals places to live.
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Increase property values and bring in tourists
These benefits are even greater in Dholera because it is an industrial center.
Green Belt’s Effect on the Economy
People often think of green belts as areas for conservation, but they can also help the economy grow. The green belt in Dholera:
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Makes homes and businesses look better
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Helps the hospitality and eco-tourism industries
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Provides jobs in landscaping, maintenance & environmental services
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The city’s reputation for being environmentally friendly makes investors more confident.
Part in the growth of Industrial City
The green belt in Dholera Smart City is meant to help industry grow, not get in the way of it. It acts as a pollution buffer, which means that businesses can run without hurting residential areas. This balanced approach is very important for getting global manufacturing companies to move to the area and keeping workers’ quality of life high.
Collaboration on renewable energy projects
Dholera’s Dholera Solar Park, which is one of the largest in the world, is one of the city’s most famous landmarks. The green belt helps these renewable energy projects by lowering the temperature of the land, which makes solar panels work better. It also lets agroforestry and bioenergy projects happen, which adds even more energy sources to the city.
Water Management Role
Green belts help save water by collecting rainwater and recharging groundwater. In Dholera, plants will help keep the natural water cycle going, which will protect the area from floods and droughts. This is very important because the city is close to the Gulf of Khambhat, where saltwater intrusion is a problem.
Awareness and Participation of the Public
The green belt will only work if people work together. Officials are working on campaigns to raise awareness about protecting green spaces, not littering & taking part in tree-planting events. Community ownership is what will keep the green belt alive for a long time.
Link to Growth in Industry
Dholera makes sure that the work environment is cleaner and healthier by including green spaces in its industrial planning. This is appealing to multinational companies that want to be more environmentally friendly. It also helps the city meet international standards for sustainability, which gives it a competitive edge.
Benefits of transportation and connectivity
The green belt is very close to Dholera’s transportation system, which includes expressways, metro lines & the new Dholera International Airport. It makes travel more comfortable and protects roads from weather damage by lowering dust and heat along transport corridors.
Possible for tourism
Dholera’s green belt can be turned into nature trails, botanical gardens & parks for people to enjoy. Eco-tourism is a growing industry around the world. These kinds of attractions make the city more appealing to both residents and tourists, which helps the local economy.
Comparisons to Other Smart Cities in Greenfield
Cities all over the world, like Songdo in South Korea and Masdar in the UAE, have added green belts to their plans. Dholera is using this best practice from around the world and making it work for India’s climate and industries.
Problems with Building the Green Belt
Some problems are:
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Buying and giving out land in important development areas
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Irrigation and landscaping make maintenance costs high.
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Resistance from builders who want as much space as possible to build
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Climate conditions necessitating drought-resistant plant species
Ways to Get Past Problems
Dholera officials are doing the following to fix these problems:
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Using native plants to cut down on the amount of water needed
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Working with private companies to keep the green belt up
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Enforcing strict zoning rules
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Adding eco-friendly designs to plans for homes and businesses
Plans for Green Belt
In stages, the green belt will grow to include more parks, artificial lakes & plantations. Drone-based monitoring and smart irrigation systems will make sure that maintenance is done well.
Benefits for the Community
People who live there will have better air quality, more places to have fun & better mental health. Companies will benefit from having healthier employees and a better brand image.
What Is Dholera Greenfield Smart City?
Dholera Greenfield Smart City is India’s first planned greenfield smart city, located in the Ahmedabad district of Gujarat. Spread over 920 square kilometers, it is part of the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor Project. The city features world-class infrastructure, industrial hubs, green belts, renewable energy projects & the upcoming Dholera International Airport.
Government’s vision for the Green Belt in Dholera Smart City
Under the DMIC Trust, the Government of Gujarat sees DSIR (Dholera Special Investment Region) as a place that will change the economy. Dholera Industrial City, which is a major project for the state of Gujarat, is the basis for the development of DSIR. The activation area is getting a lot of attention from real estate investors, especially those looking to buy industrial plots. It covers a much larger area in square kilometers than other industrial hubs in India.
The urban development model combines a dedicated freight corridor with top-notch infrastructure, making it a magnet for businesses from both the US and abroad. The green belt in Dholera Smart City is very important for keeping the environment in balance and helping planned urban growth. A regional development authority is in charge of the development plan & a special purpose vehicle carries it out. This makes sure that everything is clear and quick.
Town planning schemes help people use land by giving investors a clear way to own land within the rules set by the SIR Act. Strategic partnerships, like the one with Tata Power, focus on integrating renewable energy. The state government and the Government of India are both strongly supporting Dholera, which is set to become India’s first greenfield smart city. This will create new growth opportunities for businesses, residents & global investors.
Green Belt in Dholera Smart City boosts business growth and opportunities
The Dholera Industrial City Development project is Gujarat’s most important industrial modernization project. Dholera Industrial City Development Limited is leading the project to make DSIR a sustainable development model for India. Infrastructure like water supply, waste management & renewable energy integration has been carefully planned for the industrial area.
Gujarat uses its location along the dedicated freight corridor to facilitate logistics and exports. A supportive legal framework and proactive regional development authority oversight are increasing industrial plot allocation demand in the activation area. Dholera Smart City’s green belt buffers industrial zones for environmental sustainability.
The special purpose vehicle ensures project execution follows town planning and development plans. Private sector participation is at an all-time high thanks to state and Indian government support. Dholera’s focus on renewable energy strengthens its status as the first greenfield smart city with Tata Power. These efforts are creating a great opportunity for investors to profit from manufacturing, trade & residential growth.
Infrastructure and Future Potential of Green Belt in Dholera Smart City
The goal of DSIR in Gujarat is to show how cities can grow through new ideas and global standards, not just as industrial cities. Smart infrastructure building can transform a region, as shown in the activation area. Real estate prospects are good because square kilometers can support industrial and residential growth.
The regional development authority and a special purpose vehicle oversee the development plan, which is governed by town planning schemes and the SIR Act. Integration of the dedicated freight corridor makes goods movement easier, helping the industrial area and attracting businesses. Tata Power’s renewable energy and advanced water supply projects advance sustainable development.
This massive plan has the support of Gujarat, India & the DMIC Trust. Dholera Industrial City Development Limited helps realize this dream. Dholera, India’s first greenfield smart city, is ideal for businesses, residents & investors seeking growth in a connected world
Construction and land use rules
Rules that protect the environment and guide urban growth govern the green belt in Dholera Smart City. Building in the green belt is difficult due to the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) Act and Regional Development Authority’s development plan. Only environmentally friendly activities like public parks, urban forestry, water management facilities & low-impact tourism are allowed. Industrial or high-density residential construction is prohibited to preserve biodiversity, reduce pollution & preserve open spaces.
Town Planning Schemes mark the green belt and require permission from the Special Purpose Vehicle (Dholera Industrial City Development Limited) and state government for land use changes. These rules encourage long-lasting landscaping, stormwater collection & infrastructure integration. To keep the green belt valuable for people, businesses & future growth, world-class development and environmental protection must be balanced.
Conclusion
As the development of Dholera progresses under the Special Investment Region Act with strong backing from the state and central governments, the green belt in Dholera Smart City will remain central to its identity as a greenfield smart city. With renewable energy projects, industrial parks & residential plots, Dholera offers a sustainable urbanization model for India. This initiative goes beyond tree planting—it’s about building a future city where economic growth, environmental stewardship & community well-being thrive together.