Mumbai: In a significant development linked to the ongoing Dharavi redevelopment project, notices have been issued to residents of seven slum settlements in Dharavi Sector 6, directing them to vacate their homes before the onset of the monsoon or prior to the beginning of the new academic year.
According to officials, the notice covers around 3,500 households located on Matunga railway land, which has been brought under the redevelopment framework of the Dharavi Notified Area. The land is required for upcoming construction activities under the large-scale urban renewal plan.
The eviction move is part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), one of the largest urban transformation initiatives in the country, aimed at converting Asia’s largest slum into a planned township with improved housing, infrastructure, and civic amenities. The project is being implemented through Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL), the special purpose vehicle responsible for executing the redevelopment work.
Officials said the clearing of the area is necessary to begin construction of 10 rehabilitation buildings, which are planned to accommodate approximately 11,000 eligible families under the project. The land vacated by current occupants will be used to accelerate redevelopment and rehabilitation construction activities.
As part of the temporary rehabilitation arrangement, affected families are reportedly being offered monthly rent assistance of around ₹30,000 to ₹35,000 for an initial period of three months, while long-term rehabilitation housing allocation is still being finalised by authorities.
However, the move has sparked concerns among residents and activist groups over the lack of clarity regarding permanent rehabilitation. Residents have raised issues related to eligibility verification, uncertainty about long-term housing timelines, and fears of displacement without guaranteed ownership of future flats. Activists have also alleged that earlier assurances of “key-to-key” rehabilitation—direct shifting from existing homes to permanent flats—have not been fully implemented in all cases.
Despite concerns, officials maintain that the eviction is a necessary step to ensure timely commencement of construction and smooth execution of the redevelopment plan. They have reiterated that eligible families will be accommodated under the rehabilitation framework once the new housing structures are completed.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project continues to remain a key urban renewal initiative for Mumbai, aimed at improving living conditions, reorganising dense settlements, and creating planned infrastructure in one of the city’s most congested areas.
With construction activity set to intensify, the issuance of notices marks another major step forward in the phased transformation of Dharavi, even as questions around rehabilitation and resettlement continue to draw public attention.
