Dharavi Redevelopment Kicks Off With Quiet Ceremony Amid Ongoing Protests

A low-key ceremony on Thursday (12 September) morning marked the beginning of Dharavi's long-awaited redevelopment project in Mumbai.

The event, which included a puja, was held in Sector 6, Matunga, and signifies the commencement of the construction of railway staff quarters and offices, as outlined in the tender documents of the Dharavi redevelopment project.

The ceremony was organised by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group.

Notably, no residents or protesters from the anti-redevelopment Dharavi Bachao Andolan (DBA) were present, allowing the event to proceed smoothly.

The Maharashtra government is currently conducting a door-to-door survey to determine which residents are eligible for new housing.

According to estimates, those eligible will receive 350-square-foot homes, complete with access to modern amenities such as new roads, hospitals, educational institutions, and open spaces — reportedly 17 per cent larger than homes provided under other slum rehabilitation projects in Mumbai.

Ineligible residents have been categorised into two groups. Those who have lived in Dharavi between 1 January 2000, and 1 January 2011, will be offered homes on an ownership basis at affordable prices. Residents who settled post-2011 will be housed under the state’s affordable rental housing policy, with the option of hire-purchase. These residents will be relocated to newly built townships across Mumbai.

“These new townships will be ultra-modern, featuring schools, hospitals, gardens, and well-planned roads,” a DRPPL spokesperson said, reports Times Of India. He added that non-polluting industries and commercial establishments would be rehabilitated within Dharavi itself, benefiting from improved infrastructure and tax reimbursements for five years. The redevelopment plan also includes skilling centres aimed at enhancing residents' employment opportunities.

Dharavi Redevelopment Project

In October 2022, the Maharashtra government floated a global tender for the redevelopment of Asia's biggest slum, Dharavi, spread over 240 hectares of prime land in the heart of the country's commercial capital Mumbai. In November 2022, the Adani Group won the bid to redevelop Dharavi with an initial investment of Rs 5,069 crore.

The redevelopment plans include constructing around 1-1.5 lakh tenements of 350 square feet each for eligible residents.

Through the redesign, the vast expanse of Dharavi slums will be connected to the progressive landscape of Mumbai. This revamped identity of Dharavi will reduce residential differentiation within the city and enable the seamless integration of its residents with the overall city population.