Sustainability Measures Undertaken By GIFT City of India

Introduction

GIFT City, located in the western state of Gujarat, India, is a sustainable finance and IT zone built on the foundation of sustainability. The city is built on the walk-to-work concept, providing social facilities such as schools, clubs, and parks, enhancing the quality of life for its residents. The city incorporates green building designs, renewable energy sources, waste management systems, and efficient water conservation measures, making it a pre-eminent, futuristic city built on the foundation of sustainability. In this blog, we will discuss the sustainability measures taken by GIFT City of India.

What is GIFT City of India?

GIFT City, also known as Gujarat International Finance-Tech, is known as India’s first functional smart city and international financial services hub. The city has an enviable business environment, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and a wide range of financial services. This makes GIFT City an ideal location for start-ups and business growth. Government initiatives such as tax breaks and ease of doing business have made GIFT City more attractive to business owners and start-ups alike.

What is Sustainable Development?  

Sustainable development refers to a comprehensive approach that aims to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It involves balancing economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection to create a harmonious and resilient society.

What are the sustainability measures taken by GIFT City of India?

1. Land Use

GIFT City has been planned based on high-density development, considering that land is a scarce resource. The Global Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of GIFT City is 4.0, which is higher than the FAR of 1.8 in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. The City’s master plan incorporates planning along the River Sabarmati, ensuring that all services related to connectivity, technology communication, quality of life, and business environment are established and sustained. The city’s emphasis is on the amalgamation of concerns related to the environment and green building, optimum usage of energy, water construction materials, and traffic management, reflecting a sophisticated planning approach to ensure sustainable development.

2. Water Supply

GIFT City requires 20 MGD of Water. The water sources from which GIFT draws its water are Narmada Main Cancel, wastewater recycling & reuse, and rainwater harvesting. Due to this 24×7 water supply is getting in the city. The concept of ” Zero Discharge City” has been implemented, in which wastewater is treated and reused resulting in maximum water usage. A perennial waterfront has been ensured by the construction of three barrages on the Sabarmati River known as Samriddhi Lake. The waterfront is 1km in length and 7m in depth, its width varies between 82 m to 160 m. It is designed for the storage of drinking water, which can last up to 15 days.

3. Solid Waste Management Initiatives

The estimated waste quantity of GIFT City is 488 TPD. It aims to minimize the impact on the environment, human intervention and space requirements, and minimize health risks. GIFT City has an automated storage and transportation system. In this computer-controlled system, waste is thrown into a disposal chute, and the waste is sucked up through pipes at a speed of 90 km/h. Plasma gasification technology is used for waste management.

4. Transportation Initiatives

Transportation in GIFT City is planned in such a way that it will encourage the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles in the City. It also aims at zero accidents.

5. Green Building Initiatives

Green building (also called sustainable building) refers to the use of both design and process that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout the building’s life cycle: from design, maintenance, renovation, construction, demolition, and operation. It also incorporates green and sustainability measures in terms of:

• Reduction in energy wastage, which will result in a reduction in energy bills
• Construction of sky gardens or roof-top gardens,
• Increasing use of non-conventional energy sources such as solar energy and rainwater harvesting,
• Planning and design according to climate, Other green building parameters such as structural design efficiency, material efficiency, material efficiency, indoor environmental quality enhancement, operation and maintenance optimization, and waste reduction.

6. Energy Efficiency

Efficiency is to be achieved through cooling systems and solar plants. Cooling systems facilitate lower energy consumption, greater reliability and less impact on the environment. A 10 MW solar plant has been installed in the city in a pilot study. As the city grows, many more plants of such obscurity will be installed shortly.

7. Landscaping

More than 34% of the land of GIFT City, Gandhinagar has been used as greenery and open space. This has resulted in major landscaping of areas that are ecologically and aesthetically mature. Plantings of evergreen flowering trees, columnar spread trees, continuous shrubs, ground-cover or lawn areas, as well as landscape terraces, are also designed to accentuate views where desirable.

Summary

As far as sustainability is concerned, GIFT City, Gandhinagar reflects environmental concerns and a sophisticated planning approach to ensure green buildings, and optimum use of energy, water, and construction materials. The project recreates the area as a high-quality, mixed-use district of commercial, residential, and open-space amenities that optimize land and real estate values.

Suggested Read: Upcoming Project and Developments in GIFT City