Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited has submitted a development proposal for salt pan land parcels in Mulund, Bhandup and Kanjurmarg to the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority as part of the ongoing Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).
The company, which serves as the special purpose vehicle executing the Rs 20,000-crore redevelopment project, is jointly owned by the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, which holds an 80% stake in the venture. The entity was previously known as Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited.
According to the proposed plan, the Mulund salt pan parcel will include one commercial tower and 18 free-sale residential buildings, each proposed at a height of 180 metres. In addition, a yet-to-be-finalised number of rehabilitation towers are also planned for Dharavi residents eligible for resettlement under the project.
State authorities have already approved plans for commercial and free-sale development on salt pan land parcels located in Kanjurmarg and Bhandup. Official records show that approximately 256 acres of salt pan land have been earmarked for the redevelopment initiative, including 120.5 acres in Kanjurmarg, 76.9 acres in Bhandup and 58.5 acres in Mulund.
Separately, the government has transferred the 21-acre former Mother Dairy plot at Nehru Nagar in Kurla (East) to the DRP for rehabilitation of non-eligible slum dwellers.
The proposal has drawn criticism from some local residents and activists, who have raised concerns regarding transparency, infrastructure pressure and large-scale commercial development in the area.
Local activist Sagar Devre said, “There is no transparency in this project. First, we came to know that there will be residential buildings. Around 1.5 lakh residents of Dharavi will be rehabilitated here. We were against this sudden rise of population, which will put burden on the local infrastructure. Now we are told there will be 18 high-rise buildings for sale and one high-rise commercial building.”
“We are not against people; we are against blind development. This development will hit our infrastructure, including roads and water,” another resident said.
Stalin Dayanand added, “The government says that it is building free homes for people; but these kinds of projects are actually planned for the benefit of private companies.”
Vipin Paliwal said further details would be required before commenting on the proposal.
Source: Mumbai Mirror
