The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture involving Adani Realty and government agencies, is seeking 1,255 acres from various government bodies to facilitate the construction of rental housing for residents ineligible for free accommodation. This ambitious initiative aims to address housing needs as part of the extensive redevelopment of the Dharavi area.
DRPPL, which operates in collaboration with the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, has outlined a clear housing policy: residents of Dharavi who were residing in ground-floor units before January 1, 2000, are eligible for free housing. Those who moved in after this date, whether on the ground floor or upper levels, will be offered rental housing. Furthermore, residents who lived in Dharavi between 2000 and 2011 can purchase their units outright for Rs 2.5 lakh. For those who arrived after 2011, rental housing with an option to purchase will be provided, according to S V R Srinivas, CEO of DRPPL. In a bid to streamline the redevelopment, DRPPL plans to establish multiple new townships, collectively named Nav Dharavi, across different locations. However, the project has faced criticism and resistance from local political factions.
On Thursday, Dharavi residents, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and associated with the Dharavi Bachao Andolan. They demanded that the redevelopment survey be conducted transparently and that the project’s plans be made public. The redevelopment has stirred political controversy, with Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT) advocating for in-situ rehabilitation and challenging the bid awarded to Adani Realty. Conversely, the Mahayuti government has requested 283 acres of salt pan land from the Centre for rental housing and additional land from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). Notably, the dairy development department has already allocated 21.5 acres to be transferred to DRPPL.
In response to residents’ concerns, officials have pledged to accelerate the survey process, increasing the number of survey teams from 30-40 to over 100, with the aim of completing the survey by the end of the financial year. To date, 10,000 units have been surveyed. The focus will be on enhancing communication and outreach to ensure transparency and build confidence among the local population.
