Adani Group is in talks with international planners to revitalize Dharavi, the world's largest slum.

Dharavi is the most densely populated slum in the world, covering an area of ​​2.39 km2. It is estimated that over a million people live in this area.

Adani Group, which is redeveloping Dharavi, is working with internationally renowned planners to prepare a master plan for the project. According to several media reports, Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Limited (DRPPL), a subsidiary of Adani Group, is currently in discussions with several renowned architects to develop a comprehensive master plan for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

Now, experts from Singapore have joined the project team for the same purpose. What are your redevelopment plans for Dharavi?

With a history of 100 years, Dharavi has been a true witness to Mumbai's journey to become the financial capital of India. Despite growing traffic congestion, this vibrant area continues to attract and host large numbers of immigrants.

In the 19th century, there was a fishing village in the area, and slums emerged in the 1880s when poor people from various states came to Mumbai in search of work and settled in cheaper areas of the city. By then, poor artisans and daily gamblers started working in Mumbai and settled in Dharavi. They built their cabins over the next century in a remarkable way.

Currently, over 15,000 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operate in Dharavi, with major industries including leather, textiles, ceramics, jewelry, and steel, as well as large recycling companies with a $1 billion economy. There are also over 300 bakeries and shops in the area.

Indan is trying to rebuild Dharavi.

In the 1970s, the Maharashtra government began discussing the redevelopment of the area and approved the provision of tap water, toilets, and electricity to residents. In 2004–2005, the state government approved the redevelopment of Dharavi and appointed the Slum Rehabilitation Authority to plan the project.

But for a decade, the state's proposal failed to attract the attention of developers. In November 2022, Adani Realty, led by billionaire Gautam Adani, won the bid to transform Dharavi with a bid of just over $612 million.

The total cost of the project is estimated at 2.4 billion dollars. Dharavi received international attention when it was featured in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire in 2008, and many international travelers have visited Dharavi since then. As the number of visitors increases, guides often use the term "rural tourism".