How Dholera Smart City Works: ICT, CIOC & SCADA
'Smart city' is one of the most used and least explained phrases in real estate. In the case of Dholera Smart City, the Government of Gujarat publishes specific details about the systems behind the label. This guide separates what is described as built from what remains planned, so you can judge the 'smart' claim on facts. It complements our overview of Dholera SIR.
Quick answer: what makes Dholera 'smart'?
Activation Area has underground utility networks that include ICT ducts, reserved space for local area controls and mobile towers, a SCADA-enabled power substation and a City Integrated Operations Center (CIOC) that monitors and regulates key city functions. An ICT master plan for the region was prepared in 2012.
Layer 1: Underground Utility Ducts
Instead of overhead cables and ad hoc trenches, the Activation Area was built with an underground utility network for water, wastewater, ICT, gas and storm water drainage under a 72 km internal road network. This matters because it lets operators add or upgrade services without repeatedly digging up roads. ICT ducts have been installed in the Activation Area.
Layer 2: Telecom and ICT enablement
The government states that basic telecommunication services are available through leading service providers in the region. It also notes that infrastructure enabling ICT services, such as local area controls and spaces for mobile towers, has been identified and reserved within the Activation Area. In plain terms, the physical groundwork for connectivity is planned in, while the services depend on operators.
Layer 3: City Integrated Operations Center
The CIOC sits in the Administrative and Business Center of Dholera (ABCD) building. According to the government, it monitors and regulates:
Public surveillance
City traffic
Utilities
Emergency response
E-governance
This is the 'brain' of the smart-city concept: a single place where information from different systems is viewed together. The ABCD also contains administrative offices, an Experience Zone, conference rooms and an auditorium. The scope stated is the Activation Area, not the full 920 sq km region.
Layer 4: SCADA-enabled Power Infrastructure
Torrent Power has developed two substations in the Activation Area, including a 400/220 kV gas-insulated, SCADA-enabled substation with a present capacity of 500 MVA, scalable to 1,500 MVA. A 220 kV substation by GETCO is being developed for dual-source redundancy. SCADA systems let operators monitor and control electrical equipment remotely, which supports reliability for industrial users.
Layer 5: Water & Drainage Systems
The region's water infrastructure includes a 50 MLD water treatment plant commissioned about 5 km from the Activation Area, a 20 MLD common effluent treatment plant and a 10 MLD sewage treatment plant, with reservoirs for distribution. A 6.6 km central canal carries local storm water through the drainage network to the sea. Our Activation Area guide lists these in detail.
What is not confirmed
It is just as important to know what the official page does not state. It does not claim that every home or plot across all 920 sq km is connected to these systems. It also does not publish performance data for the CIOC. For later phases, the government says development will follow Town Planning scheme approvals. When you read marketing that promises 'a fully smart city', compare it with the published scope above.
What to ask or look for on a site visit
Which Town Planning scheme is the plot in? Smart infrastructure is concentrated in the Activation Area.
Where are the nearest ducts, substations and reservoirs? Ask for a plan, not a description.
Which services are live and which are reserved? Reserved is not the same as operational.
Who is the service operator for power, gas and telecom? The government names Torrent Power and Gujarat Gas Ltd for power and gas.
What it means for buyers
Smart systems add value mainly where they are built and used, which is why location relative to the Activation Area matters. Residents considering plots in Dholera should look at day-to-day services first, such as roads, water, power and distance to schools and hospitals.
Frequently asked questions
What is the CIOC in Dholera? The City Integrated Operations Center, located in the ABCD building, monitors surveillance, traffic, utilities, emergency response and e-governance in the Activation Area.
Are ICT ducts installed? Yes, in the Activation Area, according to the Government of Gujarat.
Does 'smart' apply to the entire 920 sq km? The published systems cover the Activation Area. Later phases follow Town Planning scheme approvals.
What does SCADA do? It allows remote monitoring and control of equipment such as electrical substations.
Talk to Omana Projects
Call +91 92171 04219, email customercare@omanaprojects.com or register your interest.