Dharavi not a ‘blank canvas’, redevelopment aims to preserve livelihoods: Pranav Adani

The redevelopment of Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum in the heart of Mumbai, is “not a blank canvas” and aims to account for its existing homes, workshops, markets and community networks, said Pranav Adani, director, Adani Enterprises.

“In Dharavi, the challenge is different and deeply human. We want to protect Dharavi’s livelihoods, preserve its community networks and provide its eligible residents the dignity of a secure home, modern infrastructure and better public spaces,” he said, adding that the redevelopment will touch more than a million lives.

Adani, while speaking at a NAREDCO conference, also outlined the group’s wider projects around Mumbai, including development around the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, the Mithi River project and redevelopment of over 100-acre Motilal Nagar in Goregaon suburb.


Adani Properties, part of Adani Group, is planning to invest more than Rs 1 lakh crore, or over $10 billion, to redevelop Motilal Nagar spread across 143 acres in Goregaon (West), Mumbai, making it the country’s second largest urban renewal project after Dharavi redevelopment.

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He said the Adani Group will develop connected districts around the Mumbai and Navi Mumbai airports, with a mix of business, hospitality, retail, entertainment and public spaces.

The group has committed the majority of its first-phase Airport City investment to these two areas, he said. The development is being planned around the two airports as part of the changing infrastructure landscape of the Mumbai metropolitan region.

The Navi Mumbai International Airport began operations in December last year with an initial capacity of 20 million passengers a year, which is planned to eventually rise to 90 million. Together with Mumbai International Airport, it will form an integrated twin-airport system for the region.

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On the Mithi River project, Adani said the group had received the Letter of Acceptance for Package III of the Mithi River Development and Pollution Control Project at the turn of the year. The package covers the stretch from the CST Bridge at Kurla to Mahim Causeway and includes the Vakola River. The project involves measures for clean water, sewage interception and flood resilience.