Maharashtra's Dharavi Redevelopment: Potential Earnings of ₹5,000-10,000 Crore

The Maharashtra government is poised to generate substantial revenue—estimated between ₹5,000 crore and ₹10,000 crore—through the upcoming redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Asia's largest slums. This revenue will primarily come from the rents and sale of homes to residents deemed ineligible for free housing, as outlined by sources close to the planning.

## *Policy Development Underway*

Valsa Nair Singh, the Additional Chief Secretary for Housing, indicated that the details of the new housing policy will be disclosed once it receives approval from the state cabinet. Currently, the government is finalizing rates for providing rental and ownership homes to ineligible residents within the slum cluster.

## *Project Overview*

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project, led by the Adani group through the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), aims to transform the area dramatically. Families residing in tenements built before January 1, 2000, will be eligible for free housing, receiving homes measuring 350 square feet. Meanwhile, residents living in structures built between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011, will be offered ownership homes at affordable prices. Those with tenements constructed after 2011 will have the opportunity to secure homes under the state’s affordable rental housing policy, with the option for outright purchase.

## *Ongoing Surveys and Construction*

Currently, DRPPL is conducting a comprehensive door-to-door survey of approximately 300,000 tenements in Dharavi to identify eligible and ineligible residents. Sources suggest that about 40-45% of these tenement holders are likely to qualify for free housing, which will be located in new high-rise buildings on a six-acre plot owned by the railways.

Construction efforts are already underway following a ground-breaking ceremony held on September 12, although the designs for the new tenements are still being finalized.

## *Future Housing Plans*

For those found ineligible for free housing, the plan includes providing rental and ownership options in other parts of Mumbai at subsidized rates. DRPPL is actively exploring various land options—including salt pan land, railway land, BEST depot land, and sites designated for waste disposal—to facilitate the construction of these new homes. Collaborations with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) and other government bodies are also in progress to utilize vacant buildings for Dharavi residents.

As the redevelopment unfolds, it promises to reshape Dharavi into ultra-modern townships equipped with essential amenities such as schools, hospitals, parks, and well-constructed roads, providing a brighter future for its residents.