Dharavi Project Deadline Ends, 15,000 May Miss Out
Mumbai: The deadline for submitting documents to participate in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) expired on April 15, 2025, potentially leaving around 15,000 residents of Asia’s largest slum ineligible for rehabilitation benefits. The Adani Group-led Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), in collaboration with the Maharashtra government, is overseeing the ambitious initiative to transform Dharavi into a modern urban hub.
According to an NMDPL spokesperson, approximately 15,150 tenements, primarily in areas like Kumbharwada and the 13th compound, did not submit the required verification documents. Some residents opted out voluntarily, while others, influenced by specific political ideologies, resisted participation. The spokesperson emphasized that those who missed the deadline will not qualify for the project’s benefits, which include proper housing, commercial shops, and industrial spaces.
The DRP, described as the world’s largest urban rejuvenation effort, aims to make Mumbai slum-free. So far, the project has mapped around 99,000 tenements, assigned unique identification numbers to over 93,000 structures, and completed door-to-door surveys for more than 70,000 households. The survey process has seen significant participation, reflecting strong anticipation among Dharavi residents for improved living conditions.
However, opposition from political groups, including Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), has created challenges. These parties have demanded that all residents be rehabilitated within Dharavi itself, accusing the project of favoring corporate interests. Despite these criticisms, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and DRP CEO SVR Srinivas have reiterated their commitment to ensuring housing for all eligible residents.
The residents who failed to submit documents by the April 15 cutoff were explicitly warned by the DRP and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) that non-participation would exclude them from rehabilitation. The project’s first phase, which includes redeveloping 40 acres of railway land in Matunga, is already underway, with plans to resettle 15,000 to 20,000 people, according to NDTV.
Environmental concerns have also surfaced, particularly regarding plans to relocate ineligible residents to areas like the Deonar landfill and salt pan lands in Mulund, Kanjurmarg, and Bhandup. The Maharashtra government approved these allocations despite objections over ecological impacts and the suitability of such sites for housing.
As the DRP progresses, the exclusion of non-participating residents underscores the challenges of balancing large-scale urban redevelopment with inclusivity. The project’s next phases will likely face further scrutiny as it seeks to reshape Dharavi’s future.