Dharavi's Illegal Constructions Under Scrutiny with Drone Survey

20 Feb 2025 CW Team

Illegal additions, including new upper floors and retrofitted tenements, have surged as residents and the land mafia attempt to secure housing under the long-awaited redevelopment plan. Despite prior enforcement efforts, encroachments persist, worsening living conditions. In December 2023, the BMC requested action from the Collector’s office, but only a limited number of unauthorised structures were demolished.

However, genuine Dharavi residents are eager for progress and support the redevelopment. Without strict intervention, they fear further deterioration in public health and infrastructure.

Under the current tender provisions:

Ground floor residents settled before January 1, 2000, will receive free 350 sq. ft. homes within Dharavi.
Those settled between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011, will get 300 sq. ft. homes outside Dharavi at a nominal cost of Rs 250,000 under PMAY.
Upper-floor structures built before November 15, 2022, and ground-floor tenements from January 1, 2011, to November 15, 2022, will be offered rental housing with a hire-purchase option outside Dharavi.
New townships for ineligible residents will be developed in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

The redevelopment aims to provide modern, integrated townships while addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges. Officials and residents remain hopeful that structured planning and strict enforcement will end unauthorised constructions and transform Dharavi into a world-class urban settlement.

(FPJ)

Mumbai authorities have intensified efforts to curb illegal constructions in Dharavi, with a 2023 drone survey serving as the benchmark to identify existing structures and vacant land within the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA). Any new unauthorised extensions or constructions post-survey will be flagged as illegal and may not qualify for redevelopment benefits, a Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) official stated. Illegal additions, including new upper floors and retrofitted tenements, have surged as residents and the land mafia attempt to secure housing under the long-awaited redevelopment plan. Despite prior enforcement efforts, encroachments persist, worsening living conditions. In December 2023, the BMC requested action from the Collector’s office, but only a limited number of unauthorised structures were demolished. However, genuine Dharavi residents are eager for progress and support the redevelopment. Without strict intervention, they fear further deterioration in public health and infrastructure. Under the current tender provisions: Ground floor residents settled before January 1, 2000, will receive free 350 sq. ft. homes within Dharavi. Those settled between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2011, will get 300 sq. ft. homes outside Dharavi at a nominal cost of Rs 250,000 under PMAY. Upper-floor structures built before November 15, 2022, and ground-floor tenements from January 1, 2011, to November 15, 2022, will be offered rental housing with a hire-purchase option outside Dharavi. New townships for ineligible residents will be developed in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The redevelopment aims to provide modern, integrated townships while addressing social, environmental, and economic challenges. Officials and residents remain hopeful that structured planning and strict enforcement will end unauthorised constructions and transform Dharavi into a world-class urban settlement. (FPJ)

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