Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reviewed the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project on June 8, telling officials to complete the first phase by March 2028. The plan would see at least 10,000 modern homes of 350 sq ft each, a nature park and a transport hub among them.
The Adani Group won a competitive tender in 2022 and is inspired by high‑density housing models from Singapore and Hong Kong. The vision is to transform Asia’s largest slum into a modern, sustainable urban space with residents’ livelihoods, cultural heritage and community networks at the heart of the project.
The redevelopment will preserve Dharavi’s unique identity,” officials have said. For this reason, special attention is being paid to the potters’ colony of Kumbharwada, a center of traditional craftsmanship, and discussions with local people are already going on. The integration of schools, healthcare facilities and transport connectivity will bring all forms of development beyond housing.
Supporters of the initiative say this is a “once‑in‑a‑century uplift” for Dharavi, and it will improve sanitation, infrastructure and economic opportunities. The renderings show sleek high‑rise towers surrounded by green spaces, reflecting the Singapore-style vision of a compact yet livable housing.
But others have raised questions of displacement and exclusion of residents. MLA Jyoti Eknath Gaikwad and others have pointed to previous survey problems and question whether all the eligible families will be accommodated. Upper-floor tenants who are not presently eligible have also voiced concern about not being included in redevelopment benefits that have been criticized for being transparent and fair.
Despite these challenges, the Dharavi project remains one of India’s most ambitious urban renewal plans. If executed inclusively it could redefine Mumbai’s landscape by bringing modern infrastructure and cultural preservation in line. In the next few years, how that high-density housing model that has been inspired by Singapore and Hong Kong will come to fruition will be seen to give fair treatment to Dharavi’s diverse community.
