Dharavi Redevelopment: Authority Seeks Salt Pan Lands To Set Up Rental Housing For Ineligible Slum Dwellers

The Mumbai Deputy Salt Commissioner's office will be contacting the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in response to a request made by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) Slum Authority to provide them salt pan lands.

On 17 May, the slum authority had written to the Salt Commissioner's office seeking the land to build a rental housing scheme for ineligible slum dwellers, reports Indian Express.

The DRP has requested land in several locations, including Wadala, Kurla village Kanjur (Arthur salt works), and Mulund (Jamasap salt works).

They have also asked the Salt Commissioner to provide any other salt pan land within 10 kilometers of Dharavi.

The authority will be required to pay for the salt pan land at market value. They have requested a lease for 99 years for the affordable rental housing scheme.

The rental housing will be provided to around 3.5 – 4 lakh people who are currently living on mezzanine and upper floors in slum structures and are deemed ineligible for rehabilitation under the redevelopment project.

The State Urban Development Department has directed the DRP authority to obtain the necessary permission for the housing scheme, which will be constructed in accordance with the Development Control and Promotions Regulation-2034.

The Adani Group had won the bid for the expansive redevelopment project in November 2022 with promising an initial investment of Rs 5,069 crore for the overall Rs 20,000 crore project.

The project will move forward through the SPV formed between the SRA and Adani Realty.

The area of Dharavi spans 259 hectares with population estimates of around 600,000 along with 12,000 commercial establishments.

There are an estimated 59,000 eligible slum families that will be part of the rehabilitation process.

The redevelopment project will emerge as a major economic contributor to Mumbai and Maharashtra.