Tightly woven into the growth story of one of India’s metro cities is the sprawling Dharavi. Asia’s largest slum, this slice of prime land in the heart of Mumbai is home to over 8 lakh people. It is one of Mumbai’s most iconic landmarks, and a stone’s throw away from the premium office space of the financial capital.
Within the bustling labyrinth of Dharavi lies a thriving micro-economy of over 13,000 enterprises and home to an informal leather and pottery industry. This melting pot of diversity is the largest recycling units and the largest known educated slum. This densely populated settlement that has become a symbol of resilient small-scale industries impact on the economy, and of impending urban challenges in a growing country.
All 600 acres of Dharavi not only houses over a million people, but also numerous businesses and working-class Indians, making it one of the most unique and complex neighbourhoods in the world. Now, Dharavi is now on the brink of a makeover as Maharashtra’s long imagined and ambitious redevelopment project is going to break ground. A Transformative Vision for Dharavi Proposals for the revamping of Dharavi has been floated for decades.
It is not until now that the Maharashtra Governments aspiration for Dharavi is finally gaining traction. The vision – an urban modern example of sustainable living to enhance quality of life, foster economic opportunity, and community-centred growth. SVR Srinivas, CEO of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project,.
