Adani Group’s Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd. (DRPPL), the special purpose vehicle managing Dharavi’s ambitious redevelopment program, has launched ‘Dharavi Didi’, a virtual assistant to the residents that will provide them with access to real project information round-the-clock.
The new platform will improve communication between redevelopment authorities and residents to provide verified updates on the development of the project, including household surveys, eligibility criteria, documentation, rehabilitation policies and other redevelopment-related assistance.
Dharavi Didi is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and can be accessed by WhatsApp, voice calls and video calls to provide a service to people with a variety of levels of digital literacy. The AI assistant supports Hindi, Marathi and English, which means the information is in the languages spoken in Dharavi.
The launch is part of Adani’s broader effort to increase transparency and reduce misinformation about one of India’s biggest urban redevelopment projects. Residents frequently need to know about survey schedules, document verification, eligibility norms, and rehabilitation benefits. Dharavi Didi will simplify these processes by providing instant, official responses without requiring people to make the journey to project offices.
The AI assistant is also designed to help elderly residents and those who do not like text-based communication. Voice and video interaction capabilities provide users with guidance in a more natural and user-friendly format.
Dharavi, located in Mumbai’s heart, is one of Asia’s largest informal settlements and is home to a rich community of residents and thousands of small businesses. This regeneration project will transform the city of Mumbai from the former into a modern urban township in which housing and infrastructure, sanitation and public facilities will be improved, and those who are eligible will be rehabilitated.
By launching an AI-powered communication platform, Adani's Dharavi Redevelopment SPV is utilizing digital technology to facilitate citizen engagement, promote public engagement, and bring about a better communication process. The project is a testament to the increasing use of AI in public infrastructure and urban development projects in India, and in particular large-scale public infrastructure development projects.
The platform will reduce confusion and increase response times, and offer the residents a reliable source of information as they navigate through the redevelopment process, officials say. Because the assistant is always available, residents can get support at any time without needing to go to the office.
As India’s urban redevelopment projects become increasingly technology-driven, platforms like Dharavi Didi show how AI can help in improving public service delivery. If implemented, the model could be used as a blueprint for similar redevelopment and housing projects in the country, with better communication, greater transparency, and greater accessibility to citizens.
