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)

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Schwing Stetter India Unveils New Innovations at Excon 2025

Schwing Stetter India unveiled more than 20 new machines at Excon 2025, marking one of its most significant showcases and introducing several India-first technologies to the construction equipment sector. The company launched the country’s first 56-metre boom pump designed and manufactured in India, the first fully electric truck mixer, the first CNG mixer variant and the first hybrid boom pump. Executives said the launch portfolio was engineered to support India’s move toward faster, greener and more vertically oriented infrastructure through advanced engineering, clean-energy solutions a..

Infrastructure Energy

12 Dec 2025

SEPC Resolves Hindustan Copper Dispute, Wins Rs 725 Mn Order

Engineering, procurement and construction firm SEPC Ltd has recently settled a dispute with Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and secured a mining infrastructure order valued at Rs 725 million from the state-owned company. SEPC informed the stock exchanges that it has executed a settlement deed with HCL, bringing closure to all inter-se claims and counterclaims arising from arbitration proceedings. As part of the settlement, SEPC will receive Rs 304.5 million as full and final payment, marking the resolution of all pending disputes between the two entities. The company also stated that Hindustan Co..

Infrastructure Energy

12 Dec 2025

20% Ethanol Blending Cuts India’s CO2 Emissions by 73.6 Mn Tonnes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said that India has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 73.6 million metric tonnes due to the adoption of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. He made the statement while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Describing ethanol as a green fuel, the minister said it plays a key role in reducing pollution while also supporting higher incomes for farmers. He underlined that ethanol blending contributes both to environmental sustainability and rural economic growth. Nitin Gadkari also po..