Japan's ambassador to India, visited the Dholera Special Investment Region (SIR) to discuss potential strategic collaboration in smart cities and semiconductors

What does Dholera SIR refer to?

Dholera SIR is India’s inaugural greenfield smart industrial city, created as a Special Investment Region within the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC).

It aims to be a self-sustaining system powered by advanced production, digital management, and eco-friendly urban lifestyles.

Position:

Located approximately 100 km southwest of Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Covers 22 villages in Dholera taluka, Ahmedabad district, and spans 920 sq. km.

History and Institutional Structure:

Created pursuant to the Gujarat SIR Act, 2009.

DSIRDA (Dholera Special Investment Region Development Authority) manages planning and land use.

Carried out by Dholera Industrial City Development Ltd. (DICDL) — a collaboration between the NICDC Trust (Central Government) and the Government of Gujarat.

Dholera SIR Key Features:

Intelligent Infrastructure & Digital Transformation:

Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC) for live urban administration.

Ready-to-use industrial areas, online governance platforms, and utility amalgamation.

Connectivity and Logistics:

Connected to Ahmedabad through a 6-lane Expressway and MRTS route.

Dholera Greenfield International Airport is being built with all necessary site and environmental approvals.

Economic Sectors Focused On: Contains India’s inaugural semiconductor manufacturing facility by Tata Electronics and Taiwan’s PSMC as part of the Semicon India Programme.

Urban & Social Planning: Six Town Planning Schemes (TPS) approved to direct staged development.

Sustainability and Quality of Life:

Platinum-certified smart city advocating for eco-friendly industries.

Aims to create more than 8 lakh job opportunities while maintaining a high standard of living and environmental care.

Importance:

Aligns with India’s Vision 2047 for an economy that is self-sufficient and driven by innovation.

Serves as a prototype for upcoming intelligent and sustainable urban areas in India.

Enhances India–Japan strategic partnership in industrial corridors and advanced technology investments.