July 26, 2025: SVR Srinivas, Chief Executive Officer of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), has firmly defended the initiative against growing political criticism, stating that the redevelopment is not merely a project, but a transformative movement focused on inclusive urban renewal. In an exclusive interview with The Free Press Journal, Srinivas emphasised that the scheme is designed to ensure housing for all residents — including those previously deemed ineligible under earlier slum rehabilitation efforts.
“This is not a project, it’s a movement,” Srinivas remarked. “It is the most inclusive slum redevelopment scheme in the country’s history. For the first time, even those previously labelled ineligible will receive homes. We’re also ensuring that shops, factories and commercial establishments are incorporated into the rehabilitation framework.”
Contrasting the Dharavi initiative with previous schemes in Mumbai, where nearly half of slum residents were often excluded from benefits, Srinivas assured that no one would be left behind. “I’ve led several major projects like the Mumbai Metro, but Dharavi is unmatched in its scale and complexity. It’s the world’s largest urban renewal mission,” he said.
The project has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, who allege the redevelopment is a means to profit private entities — particularly targeting the Adani Group. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, during a rally in March 2024, claimed the government was “selling all of Mumbai”, declaring Dharavi as the “real Make in India”.
In response, both the Adani Group and Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd. (DRPPL) issued strong rebuttals, calling Gandhi’s statements “preposterous, malicious and unfounded”. DRPPL clarified that the contract was awarded through a transparent global tendering process, the terms of which were finalised during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which included the Congress itself.
Source: The Free Press Journal
