GIFT City named India’s first Platinum rated city

India’s only operational smart city and International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), GIFT City has recently been awarded the GREEN CITIES ‘PLATINUM’ Certification for ‘Green Master planning & design and Implementation of GIFT City’s phase I development’ by Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). GIFT City is India’s first Greenfield Smart City to achieve the IGBC Green Cities Platinum rating. The global and Indian companies consider GIFT City as an ideal destination in sync with their environmental and sustainability goals.

Indian Green Building Council recognizes several initiatives adopted in the project which include integrated land use, compact city development, 35% public green & open spaces, substantiate housing, transit-oriented development with BRTS, Metro rail connectivity, 100% road network with the streetscape, and 100% green buildings mandate in the city.

GIFT City has strategically planned to achieve high energy efficiency through a district cooling system and 100% LED street lighting. The city has also embraced water management through a 35% reduction in potable water and treatment & reuse of 100% wastewater. Considering the National importance of solid waste management, GIFT City has installed an automated waste collection and segregation plant.

On this occasion,  Tapan Ray, MD & Group CEO, GIFT City said, “GIFT City’s vision on smart urban development factors in sustainability, being an integral feature of the city with consideration for social, economic and environmental impact. The recognition as a “Platinum” rated city under the IGBC Green City Rating system is a testimony to the city’s cutting-edge infrastructure, design, and project implementation which will attract global companies to set up their base in GIFT City, being in line with their commitment towards sustainability.”

Expressing his hearty congratulations to the GIFT team, Mr. V Suresh, Chairman, IGBC said, “Green rating systems of IGBC are designed to address national priorities and are enabling projects in meeting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We are confident that GIFT City would emerge as a model green & smart city in the country. We, in CII - IGBC, look forward to working closely with the GIFT city team in the implementation of all their green pursuits”.

Sameer Sinha, Chair, IGBC Ahmedabad chapter added, “Gujarat is one of the leading states in the country that has embraced green principles. As of today, the state has more than 350 registered green building projects. It is a matter of pride that the GIFT City has been included in Government of India's Smart City Mission Statement and Guidelines as Model City in Greenfield category”.

IGBC with the support of all the stakeholders is spearheading the 21st-century green building movement in India. As on date, over 6,540 green building projects, amounting to over 7.82 billion sq.ft of green building footprint are adopting IGBC green standards for buildings and built environment. IGBC aspires to facilitate 10 billion sq.ft of green building footprint by 2022 – the year that marks the 75th year of India’s Independence.