Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai

Mumbai, May 29: In a major push to transform one of Asia’s largest slum clusters, the Maharashtra government has approved the master plan for the long-anticipated Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The landmark decision was taken on Wednesday during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the Sahyadri Guest House.

Chief Executive Officer of the project, SVR Srinivas, presented a comprehensive roadmap outlining the redevelopment’s scale, vision, and phased execution.

“We are not just building structures, we are rebuilding lives,” said CM Fadnavis, underlining the project’s people-centric approach. He assured that every eligible resident would be provided a home and that skilled artisans and small businesses would be rehabilitated into the mainstream economy.

The CM further stressed that Dharavi’s legacy as a thriving economic and industrial hub must be preserved, even as modern infrastructure takes shape. “The core essence of Dharavi must be protected,” he noted.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, also present at the meeting, directed concerned departments to accelerate all necessary approvals and ensure timely implementation of the ambitious project.

The Dharavi redevelopment is being executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) formed as a joint venture between the Maharashtra government’s Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and the Adani Group’s Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited, now renamed Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL).

Adani Properties Private Limited holds an 80% stake, while SRA holds the remaining 20% in the SPV.

The project covers a gross notified area of approximately 253.7 hectares, out of which 173.90 hectares are earmarked for redevelopment, including land owned by the Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA). About 79 hectares fall outside the project scope.

With an estimated cost of Rs 95,790 crore, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project stands as India’s largest slum transformation initiative. The formal Letter of Acceptance (LoA) was issued on July 17, 2023.

The redevelopment will adopt an integrated and environmentally sustainable approach, according to officials. The master plan focuses not just on infrastructure but also on social equity, livelihood preservation, and cultural inclusivity.

The Maharashtra government aims to make Dharavi a model of urban renewal—one that maintains its identity, empowers its people, and sets a precedent for future redevelopment efforts across India.

As the plan enters its next phase, eyes across the nation are set on how this mammoth project unfolds on the ground—where bulldozers and blueprints meet history, heritage, and human resilience.