Advertisement
When should a housing society in Mumbai start considering re...
From GST on JDAs to SEBI’s REIT reclassification and the S...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
Stay ahead in the world of real estate with our daily podcas...
The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has begun investigating claims of irregularities in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), following complaints about demolished huts being re-erected and ineligible residents receiving free housing. Activists and local residents highlighted duplicated hut numbers and structures, including a temple and newly modified areas, being wrongly listed as eligible. The complaints also suggest collusion between DRP officials and recent occupants. SRA has confirmed a detailed inquiry is underway, while the developer, Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd, stated it was not involved in the original surveys conducted by Mhada.
Mumbai's Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has initiated a formal investigation into allegations of irregularities in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). The probe was prompted by complaints that demolished huts in Shatabdi Nagar were being re-erected, and occupants of these structures were incorrectly declared eligible for free housing. These complaints were filed by activist Baburao Mane, a founder-member of Manohar Joshi College, after local residents reported discrepancies in housing allotments. Advertisement
Shatabdi Nagar, originally comprising about 800 huts near the Loop Road in Dharavi, was partially redeveloped by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) almost a decade ago. Surveys conducted at that time identified the huts and families eligible for transit housing. Over 300 families were shifted into rehab towers constructed by Mhada, but many vacated huts were not fully demolished. This allowed new families to occupy some structures with makeshift roofs, which later became part of eligibility claims under the DRP, now led by the Maharashtra government and Adani Realty.
Mane's investigation revealed that survey numbers from Mhada were duplicated, with an added suffix A to create new entries. For example, hut number V/J/664 appeared again as V/J/664A, enabling recent occupants to qualify for tenements in rehab towers. He also highlighted irregular listings, such as a temple recorded as a hut and a staircase area plastered and fitted with a door to appear as a hut. The complaints, lodged with SRA in December last year, suggest these irregularities could not have occurred without collusion from DRP officials.
DRP secretary Vipin Paliwal confirmed that the inquiry is underway, describing it as complex due to multiple legacy surveys and stating that the results will eventually be published, though no timeline was provided. A spokesperson for Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL), a special purpose vehicle between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, clarified that the company had no role in the original Mhada surveys or the allotment of transit homes. NMDPL only assumed responsibility for the redevelopment contract after these surveys were completed.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project has been a high-profile urban renewal initiative, aiming to rebuild Dharavi with upgraded housing for slum residents. The project has faced longstanding challenges, including disputes over land ownership and eligibility verification, making accurate record-keeping essential. The SRA's investigation highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and proper implementation of redevelopment programs.
5th Jun, 2025
25th May, 2023
11th May, 2023
27th Apr, 2023
Advertisement
Facebook
Whatsapp
