December 27, 2025: The long-awaited Dharavi Redevelopment Project, spearheaded by the Adani Group, marked a critical milestone in 2025 as construction work began on 6.5 acres of railway land. This represents the first tangible progress in over four decades for the multi-decade initiative aimed at transforming one of Mumbai’s most densely populated and commercially vibrant areas. The Maharashtra government has also allocated multiple land parcels across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to accommodate residents ineligible for on-site rehabilitation.
The project is being executed through a special-purpose vehicle (SPV) operating as a public-private partnership. Under this framework, the state government retains full land ownership while the SPV pays a development rights premium to implement the redevelopment. Officials described this model as an “executable pathway for a project historically considered too complex to start.”
A major technical achievement this year was the near-completion of a four-stage scientific survey of the Dharavi area. To manage the data efficiently, the project introduced Dharavi’s first digital twin, a computer model designed for “faster dispute resolution, transparent decision-making, and future-proof governance.” This digital system complements the new master plan submitted to the state government in 2025, which integrates the area’s existing live-work ecosystem and industrial character into a modern urban layout with updated infrastructure and logistics.
Beyond planning and construction, the Dharavi Social Mission was launched, providing immediate support to 7,000 residents. Programs include vocational training, job placements for youth, healthcare initiatives such as eye-screening camps and cataract surgeries, and assistance in accessing government schemes for pensions and education aid.
The master plan also outlines sustainable township frameworks, focusing on water and waste management, energy use, and transit corridors. While the project remains in its early stages, officials emphasized that 2025 marks the year the redevelopment effort transitioned from “blueprint to execution,” signaling a new era for Dharavi’s transformation.
Source: The Tribune
