Adani Group offers 350 sq ft. flats to Dharavi slum dwellers in Mumbai

The Adani Group has made an announcement saying that it would offer new flats measuring 350 sq ft. to residents of the Dharavi slum who are eligible for the same once the redevelopment project is completed. The size of the flats being offered are 17 per cent more than what is normally offered in slum redevelopment projects, according to the group’s announcement.

The Adani Group won the bid to redevelop Dharavi in November, 2022. The Adani group led by billionaire industrialist Gautam Adani in collaboration with the Government of Maharashtra is currently engaged in redeveloping Mumbai’s Dharavi slum. The slum which houses more than 50,000 families is considered to be one of the largest in the world. The project is titled Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL).

Amenities

The new flats, which are being offered to the ‘eligible’ dwellers of Dharavi slum, will be equipped with essential amenities such as kitchen and toilet, as per a statement issued by the Adani Group earlier this week. Residents of Dharavi slum, who will be residing in the redeveloped area, will also get access to community halls, recreational area, public gardens, daycare for children and dispensaries made for them within the area. “Our goal is to elevate the quality of life of the residents of Dharavi while nurturing the essence of its vibrant culture,” the Adani Group mentioned in a statement.

For those who are ineligible

The eligibility criteria for residents were set on January 1, 2000. Dharavi dwellers deemed ineligible for the above project will be provided accommodation under the proposed affordable rental housing policy, as per the rules of the Government of Maharashtra.

Earlier, people residing in informal settlements were given houses which measure upto 269 sq ft. However, the picture improved in 2018, since when the state government started allocating homes ranging from 315-322 sq ft. to dwellers of informal settlements.

Gautam Adani says

In a blog post penned by the billionaire industrialist and Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani, he talks about his commitment towards the residents of Mumbai’s Dharavi slum. In the blog, titled ‘Dharavi – A Human-Centric Transformation’, Gautam Adani writes, “…It is also my personal commitment that the only move the eligible residents of Dharavi will make will be to their new homes. Not only will they see their homes being constructed in front of their eyes but they will also have a say in shaping it. What their homes do not have now, we will provide – gas, water, electricity, sanitation and drainage, healthcare and recreational facilities, and open spaces – and they will also have access to a world-class hospital and a school…”

He further writes in the post, “I intend to transform Dharavi into a modern city hub by looking at ways and means to support and strengthen existing micro enterprises and small industries and by promoting new age jobs with a special focus on youth and women. This will be achieved using a multi-pronged strategy with the help of sectoral experts and civil society. It could be a combination of training centres focused on upskilling, common facility centres for product-based as well as service-based entrepreneurship models, R&D centres, data centres, MSME help desks, etc. Another important element could be the creation of organised and systemic marketplaces in line with the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).”

Project preparation

The estimated $3 billion project is expected to complete over the next seven years. The Adani Group has roped in international designers and planners for conceptualising the project’s master plan. US-based design firm Sasaki, UK-based consultancy firm Buro Happold and experts from Singapore have been roped in for the redevelopment project. Mumbai-based architect Hafeez Contractor has been hired for the project.

Challenges

However, the journey is not easy as Adani Group is facing political opposition and legal battles which are obstacles in their way of completing the redevelopment project. The group is reportedly engaged in a legal battle in the Bombay High Court with SecLink Technologies Corp, a Dubai-based consortium of developers and investors, which won the bid to revamp Dharavi back in 2018.