In a significant step towards transforming Asia’s largest slum, the Maharashtra state cabinet on Tuesday approved the transfer of 8.5 hectares of Kurla Dairy land to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL). This move is seen as a crucial development in the long-pending Dharavi revamp plan, despite resistance from local residents and opposition parties.
The land transfer was facilitated by amending certain terms and conditions, clearing a key hurdle for the project. The Mahayuti government — comprising the BJP, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar’s NCP — has pushed ahead with the initiative, indicating a sense of urgency to reshape Dharavi into a modern, sustainable urban hub.
Just last week, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a review meeting on the project, during which he formally approved the master plan presented by DRPPL. This reflects the government’s intent to fast-track one of Mumbai’s most ambitious redevelopment projects.
The Dharavi revamp will be executed by Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL) — a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Maharashtra government. Under the arrangement, the Adani Group holds an 80 per cent stake in the project, with the remaining 20 per cent retained by the state.
The redevelopment plan promises to address decades-old issues of poor housing, sanitation, and infrastructure in Dharavi, while integrating the area into the city’s formal economy. However, concerns remain around displacement, resettlement, and the transparency of execution, particularly from residents and political opponents.
With the Kurla land transfer now sanctioned, the Dharavi project appears set to move from vision to action — potentially reshaping the urban landscape of Mumbai for generations to come.
Source: Mid-day
