MUMBAI: The redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum, is gaining momentum as the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) has called upon residents of Sector-6, situated on a 35-acre railway land in Matunga, to cooperate with authorities and vacate their homes to facilitate construction of rehabilitation buildings.
The initial phase aims to develop 11,000 tenements of 350 sq ft each in Dharavi’s Sector 6, which has been acquired from Indian Railways across multiple stages.
This railway land is a vital part of the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA), originally planned to be mostly vacant and ready for construction. However, the presence of existing slum settlements has necessitated a phased evacuation strategy.
The DRP is encouraging residents in specified areas of Dharavi to finalize rental agreements with the developer, NMDPL. Adani Group holds an 80% stake in NMDPL, which is responsible for the project, while the Maharashtra government owns the remaining 20%.
Residents from Ganesh Nagar-Meghwadi, SVP Nagar, Azad Nagar A & B, Azad Nagar C, and Kamala Raman Nagar are being urged to vacate their homes promptly to enable the development of crucial rehabilitation housing.
Officials recommend residents to relocate before the onset of the monsoon season or the new academic year to minimize disruptions.
“Timely cooperation is essential to ensure that construction proceeds smoothly and minimizes inconvenience to surrounding areas,” stated a DRP official. “Early evacuations will open up multiple construction fronts and expedite rehabilitation home deliveries.”
Given that slum dwellers currently occupy the railway land, the DRP stated that residents must vacate to initiate construction. The focus remains on facilitating a smooth transition while fast-tracking the building of modern rehabilitation homes.
To support this transition, the DRP has established a framework for affected residents. Those impacted can opt for transit accommodation or rental housing, with a one-time allowance of Rs 5,000. Furthermore, residents choosing rental housing will receive financial support with a 5% annual increase until they are assigned their permanent homes based on eligibility.
