The Adani Group-led Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL) is leading the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), which will involve the rehabilitation of about 150,000 tenements. While maintaining the dignity of its citizens, the project seeks to turn Dharavi into a contemporary urban centre with better housing, infrastructure, and economic opportunities.
Over 50,000 of the 85,000 tenements that NMDPL had numbered as of February 12 are being surveyed door-to-door. The vertical extension of structures, which are generally usually G+2, is reflected in the expected 150,000 tenements requiring restoration, which is a significant increase above earlier forecasts. About 60,000 eligible tenements were found in a 2007–08 survey conducted by the non-profit organisation Mashal. In order to expedite the survey, NMDPL has established rules that guarantee a maximum of four trips to each tenement for the submission of paperwork; if this is exceeded, eligibility may be lost.
Due to the logistical and technical difficulties presented by Dharavi’s congested layout, authorities point out that the surveying has advanced at a rate that is thought to be unprecedented in Mumbai’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority’s (SRA) history. Ineligible tenants will be moved to planned townships in the Mumbai Metropolitan Area, while eligible ones will receive rehabilitation in Dharavi. The new housing model seeks to produce well-planned communities rather than high-rise slum clusters, in contrast to earlier SRA initiatives.
Concerns remain among Dharavi residents, with protests and objections arising over the survey process; some locals claim the surveys occur at odd hours and with heavy police presence, leading to mistrust; residents demand written commitments on their rehabilitation and a clear roadmap for redevelopment; and DRP officials have urged residents to cooperate with survey teams to avoid delays. SVR Srinivas, CEO of the DRP, stressed the importance of timely participation, stating that delays due to re
After decades of failed attempts, NMDPL claims that the redevelopment project is now firmly underway. According to a spokeswoman, it is a historic project that will establish international benchmarks for slum rehabilitation and complement the government’s Homes For All strategy. All existing structures, including upper-floor apartments, are covered under the plan.
The development of a comprehensive master plan is underway, encompassing 600 acres of vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges, power supplies, water mains, transportation hubs, drainage and green areas. In order to provide residents of Dharavi with comprehensive urban development, commercial, residential, and industrial zones will also include playgrounds, community centres, schools, healthcare facilities, and shopping malls.
Source: Hindustan Times
