5 Global Cities Of The Future That Rival GIFT City

Under its Smart Cities Mission, the Centre aims to create cities that are technologically equipped, have energy-efficient buildings, offer best-in-class facilities, and efficient transportation system. The first such model city, work for which is in progress, is Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Co. Ltd or the GIFT City. This smart city is being developed as a central business district in Gujarat capital Gandhinagar. The Rs 78,000-crore project would provide residential, corporate, retail, and other facilities. The core of this project is technology to ensure transport connectivity, resource management, water distribution, and even waste disposal management. It will also house India's first International Financial Services Center (IFSC).

A look at some of the upcoming smart city projects across the world and how they can rival India's GIFT City:

Aladdin City, Dubai

After Burj Khalifa, Dubai has embarked on a stellar commercial project that will recreate the magic of the renowned Disney's Aladdin series. Spread across 4,000 acres, the project will boast of suspended golden walkways and three main towers that will be designed like genie lamps. The city, to be built on the Dubai creek, will house hotel and commercial spaces with ample parking space. It is also in the race of being named as world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Songdo International Business District, South Korea

Being built on a reclaimed land near South Korea's Seoul, the estimated cost of this project is $40 billion. This is a 10-year development project, which will be a business district with 80,000 apartments, 50 million sq ft of office space and 10 million sq ft of retail space, along with hospitals, hotels, schools and cultural amenities.

It will house Northeast Trade Tower, the tallest tower in the country, and Incheon Tower, an under-construction 151-floor twin tower. The city is smart in many ways, as it will provide charging stations for electric vehicles and automatic waste collection system. All the buildings in this city will be built on a par with LEED requirements.

Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Built on a man-made island, the city of Yas is being transformed into a business, entertainment, shopping and leisure destination by Aldar Properties. The project is expected to cost over $40 billion and will occupy over 2,500 hectares, 1,700 hectares of which will be reclaimed land.

The world-class entertainment activities will include a Formula One racing track by Etihad, Ferrari World, Marina Circuit, Yas Waterworld and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, along with many restaurants. The Waterworld and Marina Circuit will provide a wide range of motor sports. 

Jubail Industrial city, Saudi Arabia

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia has been slowly expanding into the petrochemical and refinery business district. After building the first Jubail project, the Kingdom is expanding the city further by spending $80 billion. The industrial city is known to be one of the largest civil engineering project and will house many industrial plants and an oil refinery that can produce 350,000 barrels of oil in a day. It will also have a desalination plant of 800,000 cubic meters in volume.

The city will also be well-connected with roads, rail tracks and even highways. The project is expected to be completed by 2024. 

The Hudson Yards project, US

The Hudson Yards project, located in the West of Manhattan, is being developed over an operational train yard. The project,  which is a joint venture between New York City Department of City Planning and Metropolitan Transportation Authority, will be a 17-million square feet mixed use project boasting of commercial, residential, retail and leisure development. The project will also have its own subway stop.

The first commercial tower, which has already locked in global brands, including Coach and L'Oreal as tenants, is 52-storeys high. The entire project is expected to cost over $20 billion.