Adani’s Dharavi Plan Faces Heat
• BJP Faces Backlash Over Land Flip
• Adani Eyes 114 Acres in Mumbai
Unmesh Gujarathi
Sprouts News Exclusive
The Maharashtra government has confirmed plans to rehabilitate ineligible Dharavi residents on 58 acres of salt pan land in Mulund, triggering widespread backlash. Despite earlier public assurances, BJP leaders have now erected banners in Mulund, announcing the relocation. This move contradicts statements made by senior BJP figures during the 2019 and 2024 election campaigns, where they had promised that no Dharavi resident would be shifted outside Dharavi. Legal activists have responded, with a public interest litigation already filed in the Bombay High Court against what is being called a betrayal of public trust.
Advocate Sagar Devre, a well-known social activist, declared that a strong agitation would soon be launched against the government’s reversal. Shiv Sena, too, is preparing to intensify its opposition on the ground. These developments add pressure on the administration to revisit its urban planning approach and respect citizens’ demands.
• Dharavi Adani deal: Mulund Residents Decry Betrayal in Mumbai Redevelopment Plans
During election campaigns, then Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, ex-MP Kirit Somaiya, and MLA Mihir Kotecha had categorically denied any rehabilitation in Mulund. Kotecha even claimed in the state assembly that “not an inch” of Mulund land would be allocated for Dharavi redevelopment—statements he publicly circulated through videos. However, recent decisions indicate that these promises were politically motivated and ultimately misleading.
Sprouts News has consistently supported citizen rights and exposed such discrepancies, especially in cases linked to questionable development policies by entities like the Adani Group. This issue reinforces how political assurances often fail under scrutiny when weighed against land acquisition and corporate interests.
• Dharavi Adani deal: Adani’s Expanding Footprint; 114 Acres in Mulund Eyed for Dharavi Rehab
As part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the BJP-led state and central governments have reportedly approved the transfer of nearly 2,000 acres of prime Mumbai land—including 550 acres in Dharavi itself—to the Adani Group. This includes the 58-acre salt pan plot in Mulund, which was sold for Rs. 319 crore. Further, an additional 114 acres is under consideration: 46 acres from the Mulund dumping ground, owned by the BMC, and 10 of the 18 acres at the octroi checkpoint.
Local residents have opposed these moves vehemently, demanding that Mulund’s land not be sacrificed for an external rehabilitation plan. The allocation of public land to private interests under the guise of urban renewal raises questions about transparency and fairness in Mumbai’s real estate planning.
Also Read: Adani’s Dharavi Redevelopment Body Owes ₹25 Cr in Unpaid Rent.
• Dharavi Adani deal: Public Trust Undermined Amid Controversial Mumbai Land Transfers
Sprouts News stands firm with Mumbai’s citizens and continues to challenge the opaque policies associated with Gautam Adani’s redevelopment model. As urban development intensifies, inclusive planning and genuine stakeholder engagement are more critical than ever. The administration must respond not only to court actions but also to the voices rising from Mumbai’s streets.
This unfolding controversy underscores the need for equitable redevelopment—rooted in public accountability, not private gain. Mumbai’s future depends on how it treats its present communities.