The Maharashtra government has formally begun integrating upper-floor tenement residents into the massive Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).
This move marks a critical expansion of the project’s scope, bringing thousands of previously ineligible families into the rehabilitation fold and offering them a path to homeownership within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Until now, residents occupying upper floors in informal tenements were excluded from benefits under the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) norms, which considered such structures unauthorised. However, a Government Resolution (GR) issued on October 4, 2024, has altered this decades-old policy. The resolution extends eligibility to those who have been residing in upper-floor dwellings in Dharavi since at least November 15, 2022.
Eligible residents will now be offered 300 sq ft flats in locations outside Dharavi but within the MMR under a hire-purchase scheme. These units are priced at subsidised rates and can be paid for through affordable instalments over a 12-year period. The scheme also provides the option of upfront payment, offering flexibility to economically weaker households seeking housing security. Officials from the Dharavi Redevelopment Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which is spearheading the project, confirmed that the implementation of the resolution has begun in full force. They asserted that the move is “historic” in the context of Mumbai’s urban policy and will address long-standing housing disparities for tens of thousands of informal dwellers.
Amid rumours that some residents were being coerced into signing affidavits to exclude upper-floor occupants, officials clarified that the documentation process is being conducted in full compliance with government norms. Affidavits, they said, are only one of several acceptable proofs of residency. These include electricity bills, registered agreements, Aadhaar cards, ration cards, and passports that indicate floor details. In cases where these documents are unavailable, affidavits signed by recognised ground-floor residents will be accepted. Urban policy experts have called the initiative a watershed moment for equitable redevelopment. The decision, they argue, signals a broader willingness by the state to accommodate the complexities of Mumbai’s informal housing typologies rather than impose blanket exclusions. They emphasise that the move could serve as a precedent for slum redevelopment projects elsewhere in India, where rigid guidelines have often sidelined large segments of urban populations.
From a planning perspective, the inclusion of upper-floor residents also strengthens the social base of the redevelopment effort. In the past, disputes over eligibility have caused delays and litigation in similar projects. By proactively extending the net of eligibility, the government is likely to reduce resistance and foster a smoother transition into formal housing. Officials overseeing the survey phase of the DRP said progress on groundwork has been significant. Nearly one lakh buildings across Dharavi have been physically surveyed, while over 94,500 structures have been issued unique identification numbers. In parallel, digital surveys using LiDAR technology have been completed for around 88,000 buildings. Additionally, close to 70,000 tenement-level household surveys have been carried out, further solidifying the project’s data-driven foundation.
The DRP, one of India’s largest and most ambitious slum redevelopment initiatives, aims to transform Dharavi—Asia’s largest informal settlement—into a model of sustainable and inclusive urban living. Plans include high-density, transit-oriented housing, integrated infrastructure, and provisions for commercial activity, all while retaining social fabric and livelihood linkages. Yet, the success of the project will hinge not just on engineering and real estate metrics but on how sensitively it navigates questions of identity, legality, and access to the city. Advocates for housing justice stress that the move to include upper-floor dwellers must be accompanied by sustained public engagement and transparent grievance redressal mechanisms.
While the offer of flats outside Dharavi may raise concerns among some residents about displacement and disconnection from community networks, officials argue that the hire-purchase model provides financial dignity and a tangible asset base. The shift from informal squatting to formal ownership is being positioned as a leap towards greater urban equity, even if it comes with geographical relocation. With survey efforts gaining speed and policy frameworks now reflecting on-the-ground realities, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project may yet become a template for inclusive slum rehabilitation in India.
For the thousands of families who have lived for decades in structures deemed unauthorised, the promise of legal homeownership—though outside the area they call home—represents a rare and hard-won recognition of their right to the city.
Dharavi redevelopment opens door to homeowners
