Dharavi Redevelopment Project: Survey Crosses 63,000 Tenements, Surpasses 2007-08 Benchmark

Mumbai: The Dharavi Redevelopment Project's survey of hutments has surpassed last survey conducted in 2007-08 to map and document Asia's biggest slum. With more than 63,000 tenements already surveyed the present survey has gone well beyond the earlier benchmark of 60,000 ground-floor tenements, DRP officials said.

Under Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) guidelines, only ground-floor tenants are considered eligible for free housing. "Our survey has crossed an important milestone, one that the government can look back on with pride. This redevelopment scheme is not limited to ground-floor tenements but also covers upper-floor structures. It shows that the government is committed to ensuring housing for all. No one in Dharavi will be left behind," DRP CEO SVR Srinivas said.

According to the latest survey figures, lane recce has been completed for more than 95,000 tenements, more than 89,000 tenements have been numbered, and door-to-door surveys have been completed for more than 63,000 tenements. Unlike the earlier survey, the present survey includes ground floor and upper floor structures, existing SRA buildings, slum dwellers on RLDA Land, and all religious structures.

Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), the special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed to carry out the project, is preparing to construct nearly 1.5 lakh tenements because most hutments have grown vertically to G+2 levels, increasing the number of tenements needing rehabilitation.

All eligible Dharavikars will be rehabilitated within Dharavi itself. Those who are found ineligible will be relocated to modern townships outside Dharavi with holistic amenities and modern infrastructure.

These new townships will be located within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and will be equipped with social and public infrastructure, including Metro connectivity and other mobility solutions, a DRP official said. (with inputs from PTI)