Three major corporate giants are locked in a competitive bidding process for Mumbai's first significant slum redevelopment project. Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, Reliance 4IR Realty Development Ltd, and JSW Realty & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd have all submitted their bids for the Juhu Gulli SRA scheme, which spans 101.36 acres in Andheri West. Each company has deposited a substantial Rs 175 crore as earnest money to participate in the competitive bidding process. The project houses 28,061 families including slum dwellers, residential tenants, and owners of old dilapidated buildings, making it a significant test case for Mumbai's urban transformation.
The Juhu Gulli SRA scheme stretches from Juhu Galli (C D Barfiwala Road) to the backyard of Hansraj Morarji Public School in Andheri West. The project area includes 61.4 acres of slum hutments out of the total 101.36 acres. The selected developer will not just build houses but will undertake comprehensive infrastructure development including development of open spaces and playgrounds, construction of schools and health facilities, basic amenities and civic infrastructure. The redevelopment will also include redevelopment of old dilapidated buildings along with slum areas and the cluster scheme allows redevelopment of slums along with non-slum old buildings, tenant-occupied properties, vacant land unsuitable for construction, and even some private buildings.
What makes this project historic is not just its size but the process itself. For the first time, the SRA has implemented a system of complete transparency with competitive bidding, with no trading of Letters of Intent (LOI) – a practice that previously kept genuine developers away. All three bids will undergo technical evaluation before submission to the state government's high-powered committee (HPC). Only after HPC approval will the financial bids be opened. The winner will be announced after the high-powered committee clears the technical bids in the coming weeks, making this a deal to track in 2026 for real estate watchers.
As Mumbai's slum redevelopment momentum builds, Asia's largest slum Dharavi is set for a major transformation following Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis's directives. During a high-level review meeting in Mumbai, Fadnavis directed authorities to ensure that at least 10,000 eligible residents are handed over new homes by March 2028 as part of the first phase of the ambitious urban renewal initiative. The Dharavi makeover will include India's first multi-modal transport hub, bringing rail, metro, road, waterway and air connectivity together at a single location. The hub will connect the Western, Central and Harbour railway lines with multiple metro corridors, with bullet train connectivity also being explored for future phases. Air travellers will be able to check in baggage at Dharavi itself before taking an Airport Express link to the terminal, while a fast jetty will provide waterborne access to the airport.
