MUMBAI, May 31, 2025 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has officially approved the Dharavi Redevelopment master plan, a move that promises to transform one of Asia’s largest slums into a modern urban hub. The announcement came after a detailed presentation by SVR Srinivas, CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, who stressed the importance of preserving Dharavi’s basic commercial identity and original features.
The Chief Minister emphasized that the redevelopment should be carried out in an environmentally friendly manner, integrating its commercial sector, and prioritizing the rehabilitation of skilled artisans. “Everyone who is the original resident of this place should be given a house. Everyone should get justice… though criteria will be different,” Fadnavis stated, according to a press release.
Sources indicate that the first tranche of slum rehabilitation buildings will be constructed on a 28-acre railway land at Mahim, with each eligible household receiving a 350 sq ft home with two toilets. This move is expected to alleviate the chronic issue of crowded public toilet blocks in the area.
To make the ambitious project “viable,” the government has offered a slew of incentives, including a waiver of all premiums and reimbursement of the state’s share of GST for five years. Under a normal slum rehabilitation scheme, developers are required to pay a 25% premium on the Ready Reckoner Rate for the plot. However, with the BMC owning nearly 60% of the land in Dharavi, and all premiums waived, the BMC will not earn any revenue from its land for the project, sources revealed.
Despite the government’s push, the project faces significant hurdles and opposition. The government has approved the mandatory first use of Dharavi TDR (Transferable Development Rights) for all redevelopment projects in the city. This TDR will not be marked as slum TDR and will be priced as per the plot it is used on, which is likely to increase the cost of flats in Mumbai. Furthermore, the BMC, in its objections and suggestions to the government, highlighted that the mandatory use of Dharavi (40%) and Slum (20%) TDR would complicate the implementation of the Development Plan – 2034, particularly concerning land acquisition for civic infrastructure and public amenities.
Strong opposition has emerged from several well-known sections within Dharavi, including Kumbharwada. Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad termed the survey a “biggest real estate grab in history,” asserting that the project, led by Adani, aims to expand its empire at the expense of displacing thousands of people. She stated that the approval violates provisions of the MRTP, requiring any new draft master plan to be subject to public scrutiny.
Critics of the project are questioning the basis of the master plan’s approval, especially if the survey is incomplete. They argue that land use planning should not be determined based on incomplete or old surveys. Dharavi MLA Jyoti Gaikwad slammed the approval as “without consultation, without a completed survey, and in total violation of legal process.” She further alleged that the CM has approved Adani’s “so-called master plan” for Dharavi, which is a plan for displacement, not development.
As the Dharavi redevelopment project moves forward, it remains to be seen how the government will navigate the intricate balance between development, public sentiment, and the mounting opposition. The promise of a new Dharavi hangs in the air, shadowed by the complexities of displacement and land acquisition in one of Mumbai’s most unique and densely populated areas.
