Malad Land Transfer Gives Fresh Momentum to Dharavi Redevelopment

Mumbai’s largest redevelopment project has moved a step closer to execution. The Maharashtra Government has handed over possession of a 118-acre land parcel at Mukteshwar in Malad-Malvani to the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP).

The transfer is expected to strengthen the rehabilitation framework and reduce pressure on in-situ development within Dharavi, where land availability remains limited.

The 118-acre parcel is estimated to be valued at around ₹540 crore. NMDPL has paid ₹135 crore as a premium towards securing development rights on this land. Out of the 140 acres identified at Mukteshwar, 118 acres have been formally handed over, while 22 acres continue to remain under litigation, according to sources.

While the ownership of the land will remain with the SRA, development rights have been granted to NMDPL, the special purpose vehicle of the Adani Group responsible for executing the project.

Rehabilitation Plan at Malad

Under the current framework, the Malad site will house residents who are not eligible for in-situ rehabilitation within Dharavi.

This category includes residents living on upper floors and individuals who settled in Dharavi after January 1, 2011, and before November 15, 2022.

Those who do not qualify for housing within Dharavi will be relocated to rental housing complexes outside the area under a hire-purchase arrangement.

Scale of the Project

Officials indicate that 1.25–1.5 lakh new homes are planned to rehabilitate nearly 10 lakh residents of Dharavi.

As per Maharashtra’s Slum Rehabilitation policy, each eligible resident will receive one rehabilitation unit, irrespective of the number of tenements owned. Each unit will measure 350 sq. ft., an upgrade from the 300 sq. ft. units offered in earlier slum redevelopment projects.

Land Bank Across MMR

The Malad parcel forms part of a wider land strategy. The state has identified nearly 540 acres across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to support the Dharavi redevelopment plan.

These locations include Kurla, salt pan lands at Kanjur, Bhandup, Mulund, and portions of the Deonar dumping ground. The broader land allocation is aimed at enabling large-scale rehabilitation without overloading Dharavi’s core area.

Development Structure

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is being implemented by Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDL), a special purpose vehicle of the Adani Group, in which the Maharashtra government also holds a stake. While the SRA continues to own the land, NMDPL will undertake development under regulatory oversight.

From Policy to Implementation

The handover of the 118-acre land parcel marks a visible shift from planning announcements to on-ground preparation. With land consolidation progressing, attention will now turn to construction schedules and delivery timelines.

The speed and efficiency of rehabilitation will ultimately define the long-term success of what is considered one of India’s most ambitious urban redevelopment initiatives.

Sana Khan
Executive Editor – Realty Quarter