Protests over Dharavi Redevelopment Project

• Context (TH): Protest erupted in Mumbai against the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).

Dharavi

• Dharavi is Asia’s largest slum cluster on a 300-hectare prime land near the premium Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) area.

  

• Dharavi grew as an unplanned locality after its initial foundation in 1882.
• With around 58,000 families, mostly migrants, Dharavi also houses small commercial establishments.
• Poor living conditions and unplanned urbanisation demand redevelopment of Dharavi.

Slums are “contiguous settlements having inadequate housing and essential services( UN–HABITAT).

Dharavi Redevelopment Project

• The redevelopment plan is an integrated residential, commercial, and industrial development approach with a floor space index of over 4.
• After the initial proposal in 1999, the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority was constituted under the Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) in 2004.
• Despite several global tenders in the past, the project never took off.
• The 2018 tender by Seclink Technologies Corporation was cancelled due to a delay in transferring required land by railways.
• Finally, in November 2022, Adani Properties Private Limited secured the 259-hectare redevelopment project through competitive bidding.

Floor space index (FSI) refers to the maximum permitted area for construction on a piece of land.

Recent Controversy

• Seclink Technologies Corporation has alleged improper termination of the 2018 tender in favour of Adani Group.
• An issue regarding the Transferable Development Rights notification is also being raised.

Transferable Development Rights (TDR) allow property owners to transfer the development potential (such as the right to build additional floors or units) from one parcel of land to another.

Current Status of Project

• Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL) as a special purpose vehicle (SPV) was formed with an 80:20 developer and state government stake, respectively.
• The project is expected to finish in 7-10 years after next year’s commencement.