Adani Enterprises Ltd has begun construction of rehabilitation housing for Dharavi residents at a 22-acre railway site in Matunga, Mumbai, with Pranav Adani, director of the company, performing the Bhoomi Poojan ceremony on Monday, October 12, 2026. According to reports from Mint, the project is being developed by Adani Navbharat Developers Private Ltd (ANDPL), the special purpose vehicle for the redevelopment. The ceremony was attended by Aseem Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Development Department, Government of Maharashtra, as guest of honour, along with Mahendra Kalyankar, Chief Executive Officer of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project/Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP/SRA). Pranav Adani emphasized the project's significance, stating "Every family deserves a home where they feel secure and can plan for the future. We know what this means to Dharavi's families. At Matunga, we are building 10 towers with 10,432 homes and 1,379 commercial and industrial units, creating neighbourhoods where families can live better and build a brighter future for their children."
The project will comprise 10 residential towers with 10,432 homes and 1,379 commercial and industrial units. Under the in-situ rehabilitation scheme, eligible Dharavi residents will receive homes measuring 350 square feet. As reported by Mint, the project is structured with eligible residents from Sectors 6 and 1 receiving initial occupancy, followed by nearly 4,500 homes allocated on a priority basis to other eligible dwellers. The 10 towers will be handed over in three phases to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project/Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP/SRA), under the Maharashtra government. The first five towers are scheduled for handover by March 2029, followed by two towers by August 2029, and the remaining three towers by August 2030. Each tower will have 37 to 39 storeys, with 10 to 12 passenger elevators and two dedicated fire elevators, with two additional elevators serving commercial and industrial units.
Each tower will have 37 to 39 storeys, with 10 to 12 passenger elevators and two dedicated fire elevators. According to Mint, the planned amenities include community halls, kindergarten facilities, podium gardens, seating areas, society offices and places of worship. The layout incorporates community halls, kindergarten facilities, podium gardens, seating areas, society offices and places of worship. The project includes provisions for long-term upkeep of shared infrastructure, with 10% of commercial space in each rehabilitation building reserved to generate revenue for maintaining common facilities. ANDPL will maintain the buildings and shared infrastructure for the first 10 years after handover, funded partly by reserving ten per cent of commercial space for maintenance revenues. The phased schedule means residents will not all move into their new homes at once, with actual occupancy depending on construction progress and the rehabilitation authority's allocation process.
The project draws on design, engineering and urban-planning expertise from US-based design firm Sasaki, UK-based engineering consultancy Buro Happold, Mumbai-based StudioPOD, architect Hafeez Contractor, P&T and ARC Studio, along with urban-planning experts from Singapore. As reported by Mint, the broader scheme envisages a mixed-use township with shops, schools, healthcare facilities, places of worship, parks, public transport and other social infrastructure, with essential services planned to be accessible within a 15-minute walk. The wider Dharavi redevelopment plan aims to improve housing conditions and civic infrastructure in one of Asia's largest informal settlements, home to more than one million residents. The Matunga construction site is part of a wider plan to improve housing and infrastructure while addressing the challenge of rehabilitating eligible residents, with the scale of the undertaking meaning that housing delivery is only one part of the process.
The Bhoomi Poojan follows the inauguration of the Dharavi Experience Centre by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Gandhi Jayanti. According to Mint, spread across 22,500 square feet, the Experience Centre offers residents a preview of the proposed redevelopment through life-size sample homes, a 3D walkthrough and interactive displays showcasing housing, workplaces, amenities, transport and open spaces. The event also featured the unveiling of an anthem dedicated to Dharavi and the release of a coffee-table book documenting the area's people, culture and history. Anil Sardana, CEO of ANDPL, emphasized that the focus is on delivery and long-term upkeep, stating they will maintain each building and its common infrastructure for 10 years after handover. Mahendra Kalyankar, CEO of DRP/SRA, highlighted the operational goals, stating "This is an important step for Dharavi's families. Our focus is on providing safe, modern homes with the infrastructure and amenities needed for a better quality of life." The developer has stated the project is intended to improve living conditions while protecting local businesses, with the success of the redevelopment depending on effective implementation and resident accommodation through the transition.
