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The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), backed by a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, is prioritising inclusive rehabilitation under the theme of "housing for all". DRP CEO SRV Srinivas emphasised that the plan would not only ensure housing for eligible and ineligible residents but would also revitalise Dharavi into a potential SME hub. With a rehabilitation budget of INR 97,500 crore, the plan aims to create equitable access to homes, amenities, and livelihoods, ensuring sustainable community growth and resisting ghettoisation.
Reiterating the Maharashtra government?s commitment to ?housing for all,? the Chief Executive Officer of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), SRV Srinivas, stated that the key priority of the redevelopment initiative is to complete the rehabilitation process efficiently and swiftly. Advertisement
Speaking during an interaction with PTI Video earlier this week, Srinivas highlighted that post-redevelopment, Dharavi has the potential to evolve into a significant commercial hub, particularly benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The vast Dharavi slum, located in central Mumbai, is set to be redeveloped through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed as a joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group. The state authorities have already approved the project?s master plan, marking a critical milestone in this ambitious urban overhaul.
Srinivas pointed out that, unlike typical slum redevelopment schemes where only eligible individuals are provided housing while others are often displaced, the Dharavi project embraces a more inclusive approach. He conveyed that the guiding principle behind the project is ?housing for all,? ensuring that every resident receives accommodation, albeit in different formats.
He explained that those deemed eligible would receive free housing within Dharavi itself following redevelopment. Meanwhile, ineligible residents would be offered rental accommodation either within Mumbai or the larger Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). These residents would also have the option to purchase their homes at market rates to eventually become property owners.
An integral element of the master plan is its focus on equitable land distribution and access to urban amenities. Srinivas warned that without such measures, redevelopment often leads to ghettoisation?a pattern seen in several past urban projects. The submitted master plan, he noted, has been designed to provide fair access to open spaces, neighbourhood facilities, and key infrastructure, thereby supporting a well-integrated community environment.
He also mentioned that the master plan includes strategies to ensure that existing commercial units and livelihoods within Dharavi are protected and resettled within the redeveloped area. According to the SPV?s business plan, the rehabilitation component alone accounts for a staggering investment of INR 97,500 crore.
Srinivas remarked that the redevelopment effort is not limited to just constructing residences but is equally about preserving and promoting livelihoods. He noted that the aim is to rehabilitate nearly all commercial and industrial establishments within Dharavi itself.
He further elaborated that Dharavi is currently trapped in a low-investment cycle due to the absence of legal entitlements. This has discouraged residents and businesses from expanding or investing in their operations. By offering ownership rights and legitimate entitlements, the redevelopment is expected to stimulate investment, retain the area?s socio-economic fabric, and foster future growth.
Rather than displacing vulnerable populations or stalling economic activity, the plan seeks to preserve livelihoods while promoting long-term growth through legal entitlements and inclusive planning. With robust government backing and private sector partnership, Dharavi could shift from a symbol of urban poverty to a model for community-driven redevelopment and SME empowerment within India's financial capital.
Source - PTI
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