Authorities overseeing the redevelopment of Dharavi have appealed to residents living on railway land in Matunga to vacate their homes ahead of the monsoon to enable the construction of rehabilitation housing. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) has issued a public notice targeting specific clusters that need to be cleared for the next phase of development.
The appeal is directed at residents of Ganesh Nagar-Meghwadi, SVP Nagar, Azad Nagar A and B, Azad Nagar C, and Kamala Raman Nagar. Officials have advised residents to relocate before the onset of the rains or the new academic year to minimise disruption and allow work to begin without delays.
“Early vacating will enable multiple construction fronts to open up and ensure faster delivery of rehabilitation homes,” a DRP official said.
Officials noted that the railway land forms part of the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA) and was originally expected to be vacant for redevelopment. However, the presence of settlements has made phased evacuation necessary. “Since the railway land also has slum dwellers, there is no alternative but to ask such residents to vacate so that construction can start. The focus is on ensuring a smooth and supported transition while fast-tracking the construction of modern rehabilitation homes,” the official said.
To assist residents, authorities are offering transit accommodation or rental housing options. A one-time shifting allowance of ₹5,000 will be provided, along with rent support featuring a 5% annual increase until permanent homes are allotted, subject to eligibility.
The broader project aims to construct 1.25 to 1.5 lakh homes to rehabilitate nearly 10 lakh residents. Eligible families will receive 350 sq ft units, larger than standard rehabilitation homes. Those deemed ineligible will be relocated to rental housing across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with identified land parcels in areas such as Kurla, Kanjur, Bhandup, Mulund, and Deonar supporting large-scale resettlement.
Source: Hindustan Times
