In a key decision to push forward the Dharavi redevelopment project, the Maharashtra Cabinet has approved the allocation of 140 acre of land in Madh, Mumbai. This land will be used to construct affordable rental housing for those Dharavi residents who do not qualify for free housing under the ongoing redevelopment initiative.
Additionally, 55 acre from the same land parcel have been set aside for various other developments. These include a hospital to be constructed by the Aditya Birla Group, a housing society for Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), facilities for the Swami Narayan Trust, and a private music academy.
In earlier phases of the project, 255 acre of salt pan land in Kanjurmarg and Mulund, along with 21.25 acre in Kurla dairy, were already designated for the rental housing scheme aimed at accommodating displaced Dharavi residents. However, a proposal to use land at the former octroi check posts in Mulund and Dahisar for rental housing has been rejected by the State Government.
There is speculation that the defunct Deonar dumping ground may now be earmarked for further rental housing development as part of the ongoing efforts to meet the housing needs of Dharavi’s population. The land allocations represent another significant move toward realizing the massive redevelopment of Dharavi, one of Mumbai’s largest and most ambitious urban renewal projects.