Dharavi is the world’s most densely populated slum, spread over an area of 2.39 kilometres. It is estimated that more than a million people live in the area.
Adani Group, which is handling the redevelopment of Dharavi, will be collaborating with internationally renowned planners to prepare a master plan for the project.
Numerous media outlets have reported that Adani Group's subsidiary, Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), is currently negotiating with several renowned architects to develop a comprehensive master plan for the Dharavi redevelopment project.
Meanwhile, experts from Singapore have also joined the project team for the same purpose.
What is Dharavi and Its Redevelopment Plan?
With a history dating back a century, Dharavi has become a true testament to Mumbai's journey towards becoming India's financial capital. Despite the growing congestion, this vibrant neighbourhood continues to attract and provide a home for countless migrants.
During the 1800s, the region was home to a community of fishermen, and subsequently, a slum emerged in the 1880s, when poor people from different states came to Mumbai looking for work and to settle down in a cheaper part of Mumbai.
At the time, poor artisans and daily wagers started working in Mumbai and settled down in Dharavi; they erratically built their huts there for the next century.
Currently, Dharavi has more than 15,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) engaged in business, with leather, textiles, pottery, jewelry, and steel, being the most important industries, along with a large recycling business, with a billion-dollar economy. The region also has more than 300 bakeries and shops.
Indan Efforts to Redevelop Dharavi
It was only around the 1970s when the Maharashtra state government started talking about redevelopment of the area and approved providing residents with taps, toilets, and electricity.
In 2004-5, the state government approved the redevelopment of Dharavi and appointed the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to plan the project. However, for a decade, state government proposals failed to attract any interest from developers.
In November 2022, Adani Realty, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, won a bid for Dharavi’s makeover with a bid of a little more than $612 million. The entire project is estimated to be worth up to $2.4 billion.
Dharavi garnered international attention as it was depicted in the 2008 Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire. Since then, many international travellers have visited Dharavi. With the number of visitors rising, the word “slum tourism” is often used by travel guides.