MUMBAI: Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd. (DRPPL), a special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by the state government and the Adani group, has requested 15 acres of land in BKC on a five-year lease from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA).
In November 2022, the Adani group won the bid to redevelop Dharavi with an initial investment of Rs 5,069 crore. According to sources, DRPPL intends to use this BKC land, previously a Metro works casting yard, for storing heavy machinery necessary for Dharavi’s redevelopment.
An MMRDA official stated, “In a letter dated June 11, Dharavi Rehabilitation Project’s (DRP)deputy collector requested this land at commercial rates, agreeing to abide by MMRDA’s terms and conditions if the land is allocated.” MMRDA is currently deliberating on this request.
DRPPL is actively seeking land outside the Dharavi slum area to facilitate this massive project.
Railway Land Development Authority (RLDA) has transferred 27.57 acres, including the scrapyard near Mahim station, to DRPPL on March 13, 2024. This land is crucial for the project, which spans 600 acres and houses nearly 12 lakh residents. Without this railway land, the redevelopment cannot progress, as DRPPL plans to build around 1-1.5 lakh tenements of 350 square feet each for eligible residents.
Additionally, DRPPL has requested 12 acres of land from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking. The sought-after land includes two prominent bus depots in Sion East — Dharavi and Kalakilla. These depots, built in 1980 and January 2016 respectively, have a total parking capacity for about 300 buses. The 12-acre area also accommodates the BEST transport division, power supply division offices, staff housing for 60 personnel, and amenities for drivers and conductors.
In Feb 2024, Maharashtra cabinet approved a proposal to ask the Centre to handover 283.4 acres of salt pan at current market value to state for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project on a 99-year lease. This is an exception as government now leases land only for a 30-year period.
