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AHMEDABAD: In a major step toward building India’s first truly data-driven smart city, the Government of Gujarat entered into a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IBM India for the Dholera Special Investment Region (DSIR). This partnership aims to leverage IBM’s global experience in urban infrastructure planning, IoT deployment, and cloud-based governance solutions.

As part of the pact, IBM will assist in the development of a digital twin of Dholera — a virtual replica of the city that integrates real-time data from various infrastructure systems including transportation, waste management, water supply, and urban mobility. The digital twin will help planners and administrators simulate future growth, monitor public services, and prevent infrastructure stress before it occurs.

The agreement also includes sensor-based traffic and water monitoring systems, predictive analytics, and cloud computing frameworks, all of which will form the technological backbone of Dholera’s smart governance model. The initiative is expected to enable real-time decision-making, efficiency in resource utilization, and citizen-centric services.

This landmark collaboration was announced at a time when Gujarat was aggressively pushing forward with its smart city ambitions. With IBM’s support, Dholera is now seen as a pioneering project in using big data and AI for scalable urban development, setting a benchmark for future smart cities across India.