Dholera Smart City’s Top 10 Things you’ve Never Heard about-Dholera SIR

June 25^th, 2015 has marked a transition in the history of India; it is on this date that Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi announced the massive urbanization mission consisting of three gigantic projects – Housing for All, 100 Smart cities and AMRUT.

India which is rapidly moving towards a huge population as well as urbanization explosion was in desperate need for a master plan that shall be able to handle the paramount growth as well as the effects that shall follow. A rising population subsequently results in more pressure on the existing cities and challenges in accommodating the citizens thus degrading the quality of life. It also calls for higher employment opportunities that lead to the need for rapid industrialization. Government converted this challenge to an opportunity and launched like Dholera Smart City projects that shall bring in a positive impact on the economy and its residents.

Along with other changes, it shall bring in large infrastructural changes in India and has opened up a whole new world of potential for the real estate houses. They may now get involved in the government led projects and create a fortune for themselves while building a robust infrastructure for India.

 Michael S Burke, chairman and chief executive, AECOM is looking forward to use these programs along with “clean ganga” and “Make in India” initiatives as a space to expand its base in India from a headcount of 2,500 employees to 4,000 employees in a span of five years.

AECOM is a prestigious engineering, design and infrastructural firm with its presence in 150 countries and annual global revenues to the tune of USD 20 billion. It is currently involved in development of the Dholera SIR project in Gujarat and is also working towards planning and development of the smart city in Gurgaon for which it has done the design and feasibility study. Apart from this it is also making the first green port city in India by creating the “Seabird Naval base” in Karwar.

AECOM has extensive experience in sizable infrastructure projects including designing of sewerage master plan for Delhi 2030, new Chandigarh master plan and designing and building 40 LEED certified building across 5,000 kilometers of highway. Having worked a great deal in India, Burke commented that though the potential of infrastructural growth in India is colossal, the procurement process in India is quite challenging, given the stress on the lowest bidder and India shall have to work aggressively towards closing the gaps prevailing within the system.

With the combined budget allocation of 3 lakh crores over next five years, let us take a look at the projects undertaken by the government on an individual basis:-

1.       Housing for all by 2022–If we are looking at providing the roof on every head by the year 2022, we are talking about a mighty number – 90 million home it is. Of this we are already facing a current deficit of 19 million homes. Of the 90 million homes, 40 percent requirement lies in urban India; thanks to the rapid urbanization rate. Government has taken several initiatives to make this a living possibility. The steps include changes in policies and reforms, offering relaxation in funding and financing both for buyers and builders, lowering down the gestation period of projects while increasing the term of loans available at the same time, cutting down and easing of approval mechanisms and creating a better coordination between authorities.

2.       AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation ) shall effect 500 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with Uttar Pradesh given a chance to nominate the highest number of cities (64) followed by Maharashtra (37), Tamil Nadu (33), Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh (31 each) and Rajasthan (30). It has launched with the vision to enable all households with access to tap water and sewerage connection, a reduction in air pollution through transition in public transport mechanism and increase the amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces. A 50% contribution to cost under this scheme shall be made for cities having a population under 10 lakh people and 30% contribution for cities having population above 10 lakhs.

3.       100 smart cities – A dream of sustainable India with citizens having higher quality of life, smart city project has been sanctioned 48,000 crores over the next five years by the central government. All states have been given the chance to nominate cities that should be converted to smart cities while seven cities across the DMIC corridor have already been identified for planning and development. A herculean project which shall not only prove to be a solution to the rapid increase in urbanization but also help in creating better living conditions with healthier environment and state of art facility for all Indians.

A lot is being anticipated from these projects and we hope that it brings along the much desired transition for the residents, industries and economy of India.

Sources:-

http://trak.in/tags/business/2015/06/25/100-smart-cities-500-amrut-housing-all-projects-launch/

http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/huge-potential-for-smart-cities-in-india-says-aecom-chief-115031300027_1.html