Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has greenlit the transfer of a 2,000 square meter plot in Sector 5 of Dharavi for the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). This decision, made following recent approvals in a meeting, marks a significant step forward in the transformation of one of Mumbai’s largest slum areas.
The plot, strategically located near the BEST bus depot in Dharavi Sector 5 and owned by MMRDA, will now be handed over to Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL). The transfer, requested by DRPPL in May and aligned with state government directives, aims to facilitate comprehensive redevelopment within the Dharavi notified area.
Under the government resolution issued on November 5, 2018, the DRP involves joint development through a special purpose vehicle, granting special rights to expedite the redevelopment process. All government-owned land within the Dharavi Notified Area is mandated to be transferred to DRPPL, with compensation set at 25% of the ready reckoner value payable to the relevant government agency. DRPPL’s plans for the plot include the development of a modern bus depot for BEST, thereby enhancing public transport infrastructure. In exchange, DRPPL will receive 12 acres from BEST, encompassing prominent bus depots in Sion East—Dharavi and Kalakilla. These depots currently accommodate approximately 300 buses and house critical divisions such as transport and power supply offices. Moreover, to support the expansive project, DRPPL has secured 27.57 acres from the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA), including the Mahim station scrapyard, transferred on March 13, 2024. This additional land outside the Dharavi slum area is pivotal for accommodating the needs of the estimated 1.2 million residents within the 600-acre redevelopment zone.
