'For me Dharavi is...': Gautam Adani on India's largest slum redevelopment project

Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani while delivering a keynote address at Jai Hind College, Mumbai talked about the Dharavi Redevelopment Project that will cover nearly 600 acres in the heart of India's financial capital.

The billionaire tycoon said, "For me, Dharavi is not just about urban renewal; it is about restoring the dignity of over 1 million residents of our country. It is about the possibility that arises when you dare to dream big and act with purpose."

The much anticipated work on Dharavi is will commence in the next 6-8 months, according to SVR Srinivas, CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) and the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Government of Maharashtra.


Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Government of Maharashtra, requires and has requested at least 540 acres of land across Mumbai to rehabilitate ineligible residents of Asia's biggest slum, he said.

Dharavi accommodates over 850,000 residents, and when considering the transient population, this figure surpasses 1 million. With a staggering population density of 354,167 per sq km, it is the most overcrowded zone in Mumbai, which itself ranks as the world's sixth most densely populated. Despite its challenging population density, Dharavi represents a unique tapestry of diversity, hosting a mosaic of over 85 communities.

In November 2022, Adani Properties, the real estate development company owned by Gautam Adani-led Adani Group, had emerged as the highest bidder to bag the rights to redevelop the slum. While an Adani Group entity holds 80% stake in the DRPPL, the government of Maharashtra holds the balance 20% stake.

To kick start the process, the company had roped in international city and infrastructure planning experts to reimagine one of the world's largest and most dynamic informal settlements and prepare a masterplan for the same.

DRPPL has partnered with US-based interdisciplinary design firm Sasaki, UK-headquartered international consultancy firm Buro Happold and architect Hafeez Contractor for the project. Both--Sasaki and Buro Happold--renowned entities in the field of urban planning and infrastructure engineering. In addition to these, experts from Singapore have also joined the project team.