Mumbai's Dharavi, Asia’s largest Slum spreading across 600 prime acres, is on the verge of a major transformation. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), led by the Adani Group, is taking the lead in this ambitious initiative. Adani Group is all set to hire Global experts in city and infrastructure planning for this development project, which aims to reimagine one of the world's largest and most dynamic informal settlements.
DRPPL has formed strategic partnerships for the project, collaborating with renowned entities
1. US-based interdisciplinary design firm Sasaki. Sasaki, with 70 years of experience specialises in creating sustainable, integrative live-work-play environments on a global scale.
2. UK-headquartered international consultancy firm Buro Happold. Buro Happold is acknowledged for its creative and value-driven infrastructure solutions that seamlessly integrate with the environmental and social fabric of cities.
3. Architect Hafeez Contractor. Contractor is renowned for his expertise in social housing and Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects in Mumbai.
These collaborators bring expertise in urban planning and infrastructure engineering to contribute to the redevelopment efforts.
Taking Inspiration from singapore Model
Additionally, experts from Singapore have also joined the project team, further diversifying the perspectives involved in this ambitious undertaking.
Singapore stands as an inspiring model for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. In the 1960s, Singapore resembled today's Dharavi, with shanties, slums, and ghettos.
The Singapore Housing Development Board, Founded in 1969, played a pivotal role in transforming this scenario, constructing over 1.2 million homes, fostering world-class integrated infrastructure and a progressive society. Drawing from this invaluable expertise, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project aims to integrate these learnings into its own transformative process.
Adani’s Redevelopment Rights
In November 2022, Adani Properties, part of the Adani Group led by Gautam Adani, secured redevelopment rights for the slum by emerging as the highest bidder. The Adani Group entity now holds an 80% stake in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), while the government of Maharashtra maintains a 20% stake. Adani Properties, with a winning bid of Rs 5,069 crore, significantly surpassed the government's minimum investment requirement of Rs 1,600 crore for the lead partner in the special purpose vehicle (SPV) engaged in the project.
The state government of Maharashtra approved Adani's bid of $619 million for the project in July. This transformation spans 625 acres (253 hectares) and has been called by officials as "the world's largest urban renewal scheme."
In a statement, a spokesperson from DRPPL expressed, "The Dharavi Redevelopment Project goes beyond urban renewal and infrastructure revitalization. Our goal is to improve the quality of life for Dharavi residents while preserving the vibrant essence of its culture. Committed to integrity, inclusivity, and community engagement, we approach this crucial initiative with a commitment to world-class excellence."
Criticisms and Allegations
Established in July, DRPPL's team hiring gains significance amid allegations from a rival bidder, implying favourable treatment for Adani by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allies. Residents express concerns about Adani's capacity to deliver, given recent high-profile financial setbacks.
The Adani group maintains that the Dharavi project was awarded through a fair, open, and internationally competitive bidding process, while the state government denies any wrongdoing. Last month, thousands of protesters marched towards Adani's offices in Mumbai, voicing opposition to his conglomerate's redevelopment plans.
Dharavi
Dharavi, approximately three-quarters the size of New York's Central Park, is home to over 850,000 residents, surpassing 1 million when considering the transient population. It has a population of impoverished families in crowded conditions at the core of India's financial capital. Many residents face challenges with access to running water and clean toilets.
With an extraordinary population density of 354,167 per sq km, it ranks as the most overcrowded zone in Mumbai, the world's sixth most densely populated city.
Despite this density, Dharavi is diversely populated with over 85 communities. As a multi-religious and multi-ethnic settlement, Dharavi attracts residents from various parts of India, including Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh.
With over 6,000 small and medium enterprises, Dharavi maintains an active informal economy, where numerous household enterprises provide employment for many slum residents.
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