CHANDIGARH: Aiming to position Gurugram alongside cities like Dubai and Singapore, the Haryana government has unveiled an ambitious blueprint to transform Gurugram into a global economic powerhouse with the launch of the 1,000-acre Global City project.
Envisioned as a hub for international business and innovation, this mega-development promises to redefine Haryana’s urban identity, with Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini promising an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore with a target to generate five lakh employment opportunities after its completion.
Spanning 1,000 acres across Gurugram’s Sectors 36B, 37A, and 37B near the Dwarka Expressway, the development is designed as a mixed-use township. It will feature residential complexes, commercial hubs, hospitality zones, educational institutions, and cutting-edge infrastructure, all built to international standards. The first phase, covering 587 acres and costing Rs 940 crore, is slated for completion by January 2026.
The project boasts of advanced connectivity—30 minutes from Delhi’s international airport, 20 minutes from the railway station, and just 10 minutes from a planned heliport and multimodal transit hub. Moreover, a 10-kilometre underground utility tunnel will house water, telecom, and electricity lines, minimizing future disruptions, while a mass rapid transit system will link the city internally and to the broader region.
A 125-acre green zone aims to keep temperatures lower than Gurugram’s scorching averages, and a 350-million-litre Mass Balancing Reservoir will address water needs while doubling as an aesthetic landmark. “We’re building not just a city but a model for the future,” the Chief Minister added, promising the investors a single-window clearance system to streamline industrial and commercial approvals.
According to the officials monitoring, the project aligns with Haryana’s goal to elevate its GSDP to $1 trillion, a leap from its 2024 per capita GDP of Rs 1.85 lakh, already 75% above the national average. Gurugram, home to over 250 Fortune 500 companies and India’s third-largest unicorn hub, is no stranger to economic dynamism, further giving a boost to employment, the project’s promises 500,000 jobs.
Even investors like Macrotech and L&T Realty, who attended CM Saini’s April 11 meeting, expressed confidence that this project would be a game-changer due to its strategic location and infrastructure focus.
Haryana’s leaders have drawn comparisons to Dubai’s Business Bay and Singapore’s Marina Bay, citing their blend of commercial vibrancy and liveability. Like Dubai, Gurugram’s Global City aims for high-rise commercial complexes and a heliport to cater to global elites.
However, real estate experts stressed upon the need for the authorities to provide relief to people from traffic congestion, especially on the Delhi-Gurugram Expressway.
Also the environmentalists are equally wary. The Shivalik foothills, close to the project site, are ecologically sensitive, and construction could strain local biodiversity. The 350-million-litre reservoir, while innovative, doesn’t address Gurugram’s broader water crisis, where 40% of households rely on tankers.
But the top officials believe that the Global City project is a high-stakes gamble for Haryana government, as success could propel Gurugram into the league of global metropolises, driving economic growth and cementing the state’s $1 trillion GSDP dream.
With the Phase 1 groundwork underway, with tenders awarded and environmental clearances secured. Chief Minister Saini remains upbeat, promising a city that “blends progress with responsibility.”
“I would like to request the industrialists that the Chief Minister’s residence is open for you around the clock. You can talk to me anytime. Together we will work to make Haryana an industrial hub”, the Chief Minister said expressing his willingness to invite big corporate houses in the state.
“This Global City will be a milestone in Haryana’s developmental journey, creating five lakh jobs and benefiting 16 lakh people,” the Chief Minister told the representatives of 14 prominent private groups, including Macrotech (Lodha), DLF, Adani, RMZ, L&T Realty, Signature Global, Eldeco, Hero Realty, Unity Group, Bestech, Prestige Construction, JLL, CBRE, and ASF, who have apparently expressed interest in this project and shared valuable suggestions, assuring that the investors will not face any problem and a single window system will be set up to provide NOCs within 14 days.