Fadnavis to request PM Modi to launch Dharavi revelopment project, assures 350 sqft homes

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the state government will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) , reaffirming the government’s commitment to one of the largest urban renewal initiatives in the country.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said the project would ensure housing for all eligible residents of Dharavi. “We will request Prime Minister Narendra Modi to lay the foundation stone of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project . Our government is fully committed to this project, and all eligible persons will get homes of 350 square feet ,” he said.

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project aims to transform Mumbai’s Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slum clusters , into a modern, planned township spread over around 259 hectares . Under the rehabilitation plan, all bona fide residents who settled in Dharavi before January 1, 2000 , are eligible for free 350 sq ft flats within Dharavi . Residents who settled between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011 , may be provided 300 sq ft homes at alternative locations outside Dharavi, subject to eligibility and documentation.With the approved master plan proposing the construction of around 58,500 residential units along with over 13,000 commercial and industrial units for eligible occupants. Surveys conducted so far have covered more than 85,000 tenements , forming the basis for eligibility and rehabilitation planning. According to project timelines, the core rehabilitation and redevelopment work is targeted for completion by around 2032 , with construction to be carried out in phases to minimise displacement and disruption.

The project last year released its first eligibility list, which showed that over 75 per cent of tenement holders qualified for new homes under the redevelopment scheme. DRP CEO SVR Srinivas has assured that every eligible resident will be rehabilitated. “Every resident will get a house either inside Dharavi or outside , depending on eligibility,” he has said.

The redevelopment is being implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the Adani Group and the Government of Maharashtra . A special purpose vehicle (SPV) , Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL) , has been formed to execute the project, with the Adani Group holding an 80 per cent stake and the state government 20 per cent . The Adani Group emerged as the highest bidder in the competitive tender process and was formally awarded the redevelopment rights , with the SPV responsible for planning, financing and construction of housing, rehabilitation units, infrastructure and other components.

While the core redevelopment budget is estimated at around ₹95,790 crore , officials have said the overall financial footprint of the Dharavi redevelopment including long-term development, commercial components and extended infrastructure could rise to ₹2–3 lakh crore .

Despite assurances from the government and project authorities, the project has faced opposition from the Shiv Sena (UBT) , the Congress , and a section of Dharavi residents , who have raised concerns over rehabilitation, transparency and implementation .

In November 2024 , the Adani Group emerged as the highest bidder with a ₹5,069 crore bid , outbidding DLF , which had quoted ₹2,025 crore . The state government has projected the Dharavi redevelopment as a transformative project aimed at improving living conditions, infrastructure and economic opportunities , even as political and social debate around its execution continues.