The Maharashtra government has formally started integrating upper-floor tenement residents into the vast Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), marking a significant step towards more inclusive urban development. Thousands of previously excluded families now have access to rehabilitation funds because to this policy change, which also gives them a route to reasonably priced legal property in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
Until recently, residents living in upper floors of informal tenements were ineligible under Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) norms, which treated such structures as unauthorised. However, a Government Resolution (GR) dated 4 October 2024 has amended this decades-old regulation. Now, those who have lived in upper-storey dwellings in Dharavi since at least 15 November 2022 will qualify for the scheme.
Eligible residents will receive 300 sq ft homes under a hire-purchase model in designated areas outside Dharavi but within the MMR. These units are priced below market rates and come with the flexibility of either full upfront payment or affordable monthly instalments spread across 12 years—a major boost for low-income households seeking housing security.
Officials from the Dharavi Redevelopment Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) called the move “historic”, noting that the shift will reduce housing inequality and align Mumbai’s urban policy with the complex realities of informal settlements. They confirmed that implementation is in full swing and aligned with government protocols.
Amid reports that some tenants were being forced to submit affidavits, authorities clarified that the documentation process is being conducted transparently. Acceptable proofs of residence include electricity bills, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, registered agreements, and passports indicating floor details. In the absence of these, affidavits signed by recognised ground-floor residents are permitted.
Urban development experts have welcomed the policy as a turning point in India’s slum redevelopment strategy, stating it sets a precedent for other projects across the country. By formally acknowledging the existence of upper-floor residents, the government is addressing long-standing gaps in redevelopment eligibility norms.
Progress on ground-level surveys has been robust. Over 94,500 structures have received unique IDs, and nearly 70,000 household-level surveys have been completed. In parallel, LiDAR-based digital mapping has covered around 88,000 buildings across Dharavi—solidifying the data infrastructure required for smooth execution.
Though concerns remain regarding relocation outside Dharavi and potential disruptions to community ties, officials argue the policy promotes financial dignity, with a legal title offering residents greater urban equity. As the DRP moves forward, its success will depend not only on construction but on sensitive engagement with issues of identity, access, and justice.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project remains one of India’s largest slum renewal efforts, aiming to transform Asia’s biggest informal settlement into a hub of sustainable, inclusive living, while retaining livelihoods and community networks. For many families long dismissed as “unauthorised”, the promise of ownership—though outside the neighbourhood they’ve known—marks a powerful step toward housing justice.
Source: Urban Acres
