Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has inaugurated a 22,500-square-foot Experience Centre in Dharavi, providing residents with information on the proposed redevelopment and a visual preview of the planned transformation of the neighbourhood.
Opened on Gandhi Jayanti, the centre uses life-size models, interactive displays and digital walkthroughs to present the proposed housing, infrastructure and public amenities. Visitors can view models of the proposed 350-square-foot rehabilitation homes and 500-square-foot renewal apartments, along with a 3D representation of the planned township.
Fadnavis also unveiled an anthem dedicated to Dharavi and released a coffee-table book documenting the neighbourhood’s history, culture and identity. Dharavi is among Asia’s largest informal settlements and is home to more than a million people.
The redevelopment, being undertaken by the Adani Group, covers approximately 600 acres and aims to create an integrated urban district while retaining the close relationship between residential spaces and livelihoods that defines Dharavi.
The proposed plan includes upgraded rehabilitation housing, modern commercial areas, schools, healthcare facilities, improved roads and public transport infrastructure, parks and open spaces. A major environmental component involves the rejuvenation of the Mithi River, along with the creation of a 3.3-km public riverfront.
The Experience Centre uses large digital screens and interactive installations to explain the proposed changes. These include new residential buildings, roads, public transport facilities, educational institutions, healthcare centres, religious facilities and community spaces.
Visitors can also explore furnished and unfurnished versions of the proposed homes to understand their layouts and design. The facility is intended to serve as an information hub for residents, providing details about surveys, eligibility criteria, documentation requirements and rehabilitation procedures.
A key focus of the centre is Dharavi’s existing economic ecosystem. Displays highlight the area’s businesses, manufacturing activities and entrepreneurial networks, while explaining how livelihoods are proposed to be incorporated into the redevelopment.
The plan also proposes extensive greenery, including around 40,000 trees, along with new parks and improved public spaces.
The Experience Centre is intended to give Dharavi residents a clearer understanding of the proposed redevelopment and how the project could reshape housing, infrastructure, public amenities and commercial activity across the neighbourhood.
Source: Money Control
