Dholera - Sparkling Green City along DMIC to come up by 2017

India and Japan have signed agreements to build eco-friendly cities along the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor(DMIC). From Dadri to JN Port 1,483-km Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor will cross six states —Delhi and the national capital region, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana. Distribution of length indicates that Rajasthan (39%) and Gujarat (38%) together constitute 77% of total length of the alignment of DMIC followed by Haryana and Maharashtra (10% each) and Uttar Pradesh and the National Capital Region of Delhi (1.5% of total length each) between Delhi and Mumbai.

The greenfield cities on the anvil—Dholera in Gujarat, Manesar-Bawal in Haryana, Indore-Mhow in Madhya Pradesh, and Dighi and Nasik-Igatpuri in Maharashtra—have been conceived on a grand scale, along the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). For example, at 900 sq km, Dholera is envisioned to be six times bigger than Chandigarh. Amitabh Kant, CEO of DMIC Development Corporation, a private company formed with 49% government 41% IL&FS, & 10% IDFC equity,said the master plans for three cities are ready.

Leading Japanese corporations such as Toshiba Corporation, Hitachi, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and JGC Corporation are planning big investments in the proposed Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project. These companies are planning projects in solar power, power transmission, infrastructure development, water supply and sewerage treatment, according to reports appearing in Japanese newspapers that quoted Masayuki Naoshima, the Japanese minister for economy, trade and industry. The companies are scheduled to begin feasibility studies in April and will launch full-fledged construction work as early as 2011-12, according to the reports. Besides, the city of Kitakyushu will provide its knowhow on environmental technologies, while Yokohama is expected to help develop and manage water supply and sewerage systems for DMIC, said the minister.

According to the initial plans, Dholera has a four-year target of completion, with four-laned roads (provision for 10 lanes), a 100 m road corridor, improvements to the NH8E, a broad guage rail line and more. Amitab Kant the CEO of DMIC was the man behind the successful "Incredible India" & "Kerala - God's own country" tourism promotion campaigns.