dharavi redevelopment project

Where is Dharavi located and why is it significant?

It’s in central Mumbai and is one of Asia’s largest informal settlements, home to nearly a million people in 2.1 sq. km. Despite poor infrastructure, it generates over $1 billion annually through small-scale industries like leather, pottery, and recycling.

How did Dharavi originate?

It emerged in the 19th century when colonial city planning pushed poor migrants out of Mumbai’s centre. Migrants from Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and UP built their own community on marshy land, creating a self-sustained informal economy.

What makes Dharavi’s economy unique?

It’s informal yet powerful—over 10,000 small industries generate $1 billion yearly, showing how people can build power and sustainability without state support.

Who initiated the DRP and when?

Started in 2004 by architect Mukesh Mehta under the Maharashtra government as a Public–Private Partnership (PPP).

What company is now leading the project?

The Adani Group, which won the ₹20,000 crore bid in 2023, forming the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd. (DRPPL).

What are the key concerns about implementation?

Lack of transparency, possible political influence, and exclusion of over 60% of residents due to strict eligibility (must prove residence before Jan 1, 2000).

Why was the 70% consent rule controversy important?

The state waived it—this bypassed democratic participation and heightened fears of forced eviction.

What is the “live–work ecosystem,” and why is it vital?

Dharavi’s economy blends homes and workspaces (17,000 home industries). Redevelopment threatens this structure, risking job loss and community breakdown.

What are the main positive impacts of DRP?

Better sanitation, water access, private toilets, wider roads, safety, schools, hospitals, and legal housing documents that offer dignity and access to formal credit.

What are the main negative impacts?

Displacement, loss of informal jobs, social fragmentation, and possible return to slums due to unaffordable or unsuitable high-rise housing.

What ethical issue does the paper raise about DRP’s model?

It risks commodifying poverty, using luxury real estate profits to “redevelop” poor communities—turning social welfare into a business venture.

What are the main flaws in the policy design?

1. Rigid eligibility cutoff (excludes thousands).

2. PPP model prioritises profit.

3. High-rise design ignores local economy.

What global models offer alternatives?

• Rio’s Favela Bairro Project: In-situ upgrading with participation.

• Cape Town’s Langa redevelopment: Gradual, inclusive improvement.

What are your group’s key policy recommendations?

1. Participatory planning (local councils).

2. Expanded eligibility (rent-to-own or flexible models).

3. Economic inclusion (support for microenterprises).

4. In-situ upgrading (avoid relocation).

5. Community-led governance for sustainability.

How does Nivedita Menon’s concept of power apply to Dharavi?

Power operates silently—it defines what’s seen as “normal” or “inevitable.” The idea that redevelopment = progress hides how real power excludes residents from decision-making.

What does the paper mean by “power without legitimacy”?

The state used its power (waiving the consent rule) without community approval—so it’s powerful but not democratic.

What kind of resistance exists in Dharavi?

Residents and activists fight not just for houses but for dignity, livelihoods, and the right to shape their own future—a form of everyday resistance to top-down power.

What’s the final takeaway from your paper?

Redevelopment must be inclusive and community-led. Dharavi’s success lies not in replacing its people but empowering them to modernise on their own terms.