How we source and tag every figure
This page explains how Dholera Atlas sources and tags every figure. In short, we use only traceable public and official sources, we grade them by reliability, and we label each fact as a durable confirmed fact, a reported claim or a target, always keeping dates attached. We never invent numbers, and we flag gaps honestly rather than filling them with guesses.
The core rule, no invented numbers
The single rule behind the whole Atlas is that we never invent a figure. Every number on the site, whether it appears in a chart, a table, a stat tile or a sentence, has to trace back to a credible source. If a figure is not reliably sourced, we write that it is not reliably sourced and point the reader toward where a better answer might be found, rather than manufacturing a plausible-looking number. This discipline is what separates a reference from a brochure, and it is why the Atlas is willing to say plainly that certain things, such as the verified named list of the 22 villages or the exact per-zone land-use percentages, are not currently established in the public record.
How we grade sources
We treat sources in tiers. The strongest are durable confirmed facts and green-tier primary sources, central and state government documents such as the NICDC Delivery Monitoring Unit report dated 30 Jun 2026, PIB releases like the one confirming the semi-high-speed rail approval on 13 May 2026, official portals such as dholera.gujarat.gov.in, the sanctioned DSIRDA development plan, the census, and primary company statements. Next come reported claims, credible but resting on press or trade coverage, which we label as reported. The weakest are broker and aggregator sites, which we use only to locate a story and never as the source of a figure, and which are held at the lowest tier or dropped entirely. When sources disagree, for example on the expressway lane count where most press says 4-lane expandable to 8 while an NICDC document says 6-lane, we show the discrepancy rather than picking one.
How we label facts
Each figure carries a label so its weight is visible. A durable confirmed fact is well established and unlikely to change, such as the SIR Act of 2009 or the fab's approved investment. A reported item is credible but not primary-certified, such as the fab being structurally complete with cleanroom fit-out underway. A target is a stated goal that has not yet been achieved, such as the airport operations targeted for September to October 2026 or the rail completion targeted up to 2030-31. We keep the date attached to time-sensitive claims, because Dholera has a documented history of slipping deadlines and a figure without its date can mislead. Where a claim is disputed or a superlative is unverified, such as biggest greenfield city, we say so.
Handling gaps and updates
We are open about what we do not know. Some official sources are gated or JavaScript-only and could not be machine-read even after repeated attempts, including the DSIRDA news page and the live GUJRERA registry, so those remain open questions rather than being papered over. The fact base is maintained through dated refreshes, each of which verifies items against the strongest reachable source and records what changed. Newer verified information supersedes older lines only on the specific points it addresses, and everything else stands. When we cannot verify something to our standard, we would rather present it as pending or unverified than claim a certainty we do not have. This is why the Atlas reads cautiously in places, that caution is the method working as intended. In short, a visible gap is a feature of the method, not a failure of it, because an honest unknown is more useful to a reader than a confident guess.
FAQ
What counts as a reliable source for Dholera Atlas?
The most reliable are primary government and agency documents, the NICDC Delivery Monitoring Unit report, PIB releases, official state portals, the sanctioned DSIRDA development plan, the census, and primary company statements. Credible press and trade coverage is used but labelled as reported. Broker and aggregator sites are used only to find a story, never as the source of a figure.
Why do some pages say a figure is not reliably sourced?
Because it genuinely is not, and we will not invent one. Examples include the verified named list of all 22 villages and the exact per-zone land-use percentages, where the primary documents are either gated or not web-reachable. Saying so is more honest and more useful than presenting a guess as fact.
How often is the information updated?
The fact base is refreshed in dated passes, with the current data verified to mid-2026. Each refresh checks items against the strongest reachable source and supersedes older lines only where they conflict. Because Dholera changes, we keep dates on figures and encourage readers to confirm the latest position at the source.