Only 16% of tenement residents from a surveyed pocket in Dharavi have been deemed eligible for in-situ housing under the state’s much-publicised ₹95,790-crore Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). The figure emerged from the first eligibility list released for Meghwadi, a sub-section within Dharavi, leaving many long-term residents anxious, uncertain, and demanding clarity.
The eligibility assessment, jointly undertaken by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project authority and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA), is being conducted as part of the phased transformation of Dharavi—Asia’s largest informal settlement—into an integrated urban enclave. The first list covers 505 ground-plus-one and two-storey tin-roofed structures in Meghwadi, a relatively small but densely packed locality in Dharavi. According to officials, only 81 of these tenements were found to meet the eligibility criteria for the newly planned 350-square-foot apartments, which are to be equipped with basic civic amenities and constructed in the same neighbourhood. For those ruled ineligible, the government has proposed offsite rehabilitation, identifying land parcels in Deonar, Aksa, Mulund, Kanjurmarg salt pans, and Kurla dairy to accommodate the displaced.
While authorities have insisted that the process is based on verifiable documentation, residents say the scrutiny process has been opaque and arbitrary. Those excluded from the list are now racing against a July 5 deadline to furnish supplementary proof—such as electricity bills, Aadhaar cards, and old property papers—to challenge their classification. The reaction on the ground has been one of confusion, frustration, and mistrust. Residents, some of whom have lived in Dharavi for over three generations, feel betrayed by what they see as shifting promises and non-transparent assessments. “We were initially told that we would be shifted to nearby railway land in Matunga or Mahim, but now they are pushing us out of Dharavi altogether,” said a retired resident who owns a small grocery shop in Meghwadi.
This sense of displacement has led to protests, petitions, and community mobilisation. On June 24, a group of residents met officials from the deputy collector’s office seeking intervention and clarity on the rationale behind their exclusion. Many among them have grown up in these houses, raised families, and built micro-enterprises that serve as both livelihoods and social capital in one of Mumbai’s most vibrant informal economies. An official involved in the DRP acknowledged that the verification process is complex, involving checks across multiple documents. “We have to look into various parameters to determine if the occupant meets eligibility norms. Not everyone has consistent documentation due to the informal nature of tenures in slums,” the official said.
The broader concern, however, goes beyond just documentation. Activists and urban policy experts warn that without transparent criteria and inclusive engagement, large-scale redevelopment risks marginalising the very people it is meant to benefit. “Dharavi is not just a settlement—it is an ecosystem. If you remove people under technical pretexts, you are destroying both social fabric and livelihoods,” said a senior urban planner based in Mumbai. According to DRP data, Dharavi comprises roughly 1.25 lakh tenements. Of these, just over 1.01 lakh have been surveyed so far, and around 87,000 households have submitted the required documentation. As per the master plan, 58,532 households are slated for in-situ rehabilitation. That leaves a considerable portion of residents whose eligibility remains unclear or contested.
This discrepancy has sharpened focus on the inclusivity of the redevelopment process. While the state government and DRP have promised a modern, liveable, and economically integrated neighbourhood, the implementation has raised questions on sustainability and justice. Offsite relocation, even with assurances of modern housing, often leads to economic displacement, especially for residents whose income sources are hyperlocal and informal. Urban planners argue that in-situ rehabilitation must be the primary strategy, backed by flexible documentation requirements, citizen facilitation desks, and a grievance redressal mechanism. “Forced exclusion will only deepen socio-economic gaps. The government must adopt a rights-based approach and support long-time residents in proving eligibility, rather than disqualifying them by default,” said an official familiar with past slum rehabilitation projects.
There is also concern about the viability of the offsite land options. The sites at Deonar and Bhandup, for example, are far from the urban core, lack social infrastructure, and may be environmentally sensitive. Relocating large populations there could not only disrupt their livelihoods but also create new strains on civic resources. From a sustainability perspective, the Dharavi redevelopment project has an opportunity to set a new benchmark for climate-resilient and socially inclusive urban renewal. But to succeed, it must centre human rights, cultural continuity, and equitable access to housing. The push for modernisation must not erase the communities that gave Dharavi its distinct identity and economic vitality.
Residents now await the release of further eligibility lists for other parts of Dharavi. Many are watching closely to see whether the Meghwadi experience is an exception or a preview of what’s to come. For now, the spotlight remains firmly on how the city balances growth with fairness, and ambition with accountability. As the July 5 deadline for additional document submission nears, the future of hundreds in Meghwadi hangs in the balance—caught between the promise of a transformed Dharavi and the fear of being permanently excluded from it.
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