Dharavi is not just a "slum." It is a pulsating, self-sustaining city-within-a-city where over one million people live, work, and dream across 590 acres of prime Mumbai real estate. Recently, JIST reporter Medha took us into the narrow, winding gullies of this iconic settlement to capture the voices of a community standing on the precipice of the largest urban transformation project in the world.
As the bulldozers prepare to move in under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), the air is thick with more than just the smell of leather and recycling; it is heavy with an existential fear.
The Impossible Statistics: Life in Asia's Largest Slum
To understand the gravity of the redevelopment, one must first understand the reality Medha uncovered on the ground.
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Density: Imagine 1 million people living in an area smaller than London's Hyde Park.
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Economy: Dharavi isn’t just residential; it is a micro-industrial powerhouse with an annual turnover estimated at over $1 billion, fueled by leatherwork, pottery, and textiles.
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Conditions: Despite the economic output, the residents live in "inhumane" conditions—open sewers, shared toilets for hundreds, and houses so small they resemble "matchboxes" stacked atop each other.
The 350 Sq. Ft. Promise: A Dream or a Trap?
The redevelopment plan, led by the Adani Group’s Navbharat Mega Developers, promises a "dignified" life in 350 sq. ft. in-situ homes. However, the fine print is where the tension lies:
| Category | The Offer | The Challenge |
| Pre-2000 Residents | Free 350 sq. ft. in-situ apartment. | Provenance is hard; many lacked electricity bills (a key document) until 2008. |
| Post-2000 Residents | ₹2.5 Lakh subsidy or rental options. | Many fear this is an "eviction notice" in disguise, pushing them to the city's toxic fringes like Deonar. |
| Businesses | Space within the new complex. | The organic "work-from-home" ecosystem of leather and pottery may not survive in a high-rise tower. |
Ground Zero: Voices of Resistance and Hope
Medha’s report highlights a community divided. For some, like young families struggling with sanitation and disease, the promise of a modern home with a private toilet is a dream they have waited decades for.
But for others, like the third-generation leather artisans, the project feels like a "real estate deal" rather than "human development."
"Our supply chain is our neighbor. Our workshop is our home. If you move us into a tower, you kill our business," one resident shared.
There is a profound distrust regarding transparency. As of December 2025, residents of Ganesh Nagar have already begun receiving eviction notices to make way for sewage lines, leading to protests and claims of "harassment" by those resisting the survey.
The Final Verdict: Will Dharavi Lose its Heart?
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is a test for modern India. Can private capital rebuild an urban space without destroying the social fabric that makes it thrive?
If the project succeeds, Dharavi could become a "paradise on earth" and a global model for urban renewal. If it fails, Mumbai risks losing its most resilient community to a "playground for the rich," leaving its original builders in the shadows of the very skyscrapers they helped create.
🔗 Deep Dive Sources:
▪️ JIST News: Inside India’s Most Congested Slum ft. Medha
▪️ The Guardian: Threats, Fear, and Hope—Dharavi Residents Await the Bulldozers
▪️ Hindustan Times: Dharavikars Begin Vacating Decades-Old Residences
▪️ Economic Times: First Eligibility List for Dharavi Redevelopment Released
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