Summary (full article at the end)

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) promises to transform one of Asia’s largest homegrown settlements into a “world-class city.” However, beneath the rhetoric of modernization lies a systemic process of exclusion, displacement, and community dismantlement. Dharavi, a neighborhood that has long been a symbol of resilience and economic vitality, now faces an uncertain future as its residents grapple with the promises and perils of redevelopment.

The DRP is emblematic of neoliberal urban governance, where market-driven imperatives take precedence over the needs and aspirations of local communities. Framed as a revival initiative, the project’s narrative portrays Dharavi as a space in need of rescue and renewal, promising residents dignity, safety, and access to modern amenities. Yet, this vision is deeply rooted in speculative real estate development, prioritizing elite interests and profit-making over the preservation of Dharavi’s unique social and economic fabric. The relocation of industries to the city’s outskirts, for instance, threatens to dismantle the intricate networks of interdependent industries and close-knit communities that have sustained Dharavi’s economy and identity for decades.

Dharavi’s spatial and social fabric is essential to its residents’ livelihoods. The neighborhood’s dense, interconnected layout fosters a unique ecosystem of small-scale industries, informal businesses, and community networks. These industries, ranging from leather workshop to recycling, rely heavily on proximity and interdependence, creating a (almost) self-sustaining economic model that has thrived despite the lack of formal infrastructure. The DRP’s plan to relocate these industries to the city’s periphery not only disrupts this ecosystem but also risks leaving thousands of residents without work or access to affordable services. For many, the project represents not just a physical transformation but a profound disruption of their social and economic lives.

Interviews with Dharavi’s residents reveal a spectrum of responses to the DRP, shaped by generational and socio-economic divides. While there is widespread acknowledgment of the need for improved infrastructure, many residents express deep ambivalence about the project’s implications. Older generations, in particular, emphasize the critical role of Dharavi’s accessibility and affordability in sustaining their livelihoods. Women, for example, highlight the importance of proximity to essential services, such as schools, markets, and healthcare facilities, which are integral to their daily lives. For them, the prospect of relocation to isolated, poorly designed housing on the city’s outskirts is seen as a significant threat to their independence, well-being, and social networks.

Small business owners and workers echo these concerns, underscoring the risks of dismantling Dharavi’s industrial ecosystem. The neighborhood’s unique spatial dynamics, which allow industries to operate in close proximity to one another and to their customer base, are critical to their survival. Relocation to distant industrial zones not only increases costs but also severs the social and economic ties that underpin their businesses. For these residents, the DRP represents a loss of community, identity, and economic security.

In contrast, younger residents often view the DRP as a pathway to upward mobility. Drawn by the promise of “free and bigger housing,” they see the project as an opportunity to escape the challenges of living in an informal settlement and to access modern amenities. For many, the allure of improved housing and infrastructure outweighs concerns about the potential loss of community and identity. However, this optimism is tempered by the recognition that the DRP’s benefits may not be equitably distributed, and that the project’s focus on real estate development may ultimately prioritize profit over people.

The DRP is not merely an urban development initiative but also a deeply political project, reflecting India’s broader struggles with inequality, urbanization, and the exclusionary nature of neoliberal policies. Dharavi’s redevelopment has become a symbol of the country’s aspirations for modernization and global competitiveness, aligning with the Prime Minister’s vision of a modern, globalized India. Yet, it also underscores the systemic marginalization of vulnerable communities in favor of elite-driven urban transformation. The project’s emphasis on speculative real estate development, coupled with its disregard for the social and economic needs of Dharavi’s residents, highlights the exclusionary nature of neoliberal urban governance.

Ultimately, the DRP raises critical questions about whose interests are prioritized in the process of urban renewal. While the project promises to deliver modernity and progress, it risks erasing the very qualities that make Dharavi a vibrant and resilient community. As India grapples with the challenges of urbanization and inequality, Dharavi’s redevelopment serves as a microcosm of the broader tensions between modernization and marginalization, progress and displacement, and profit and people. The DRP’s outcome will not only shape the future of Dharavi but also serve as a litmus test for the inclusivity and equity of India’s urban development policies.

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Relevant references:

1. Adani, G. (2022). Dharavi – A Human-Centric Transformation. Adani Group.
2. Appadurai, A. (2001). Deep democracy: urban governmentality and the horizon of politics. Environment and urbanization, 13(2), 23-43.
3. Doshi, S. (2013). The politics of the evicted: redevelopment, subjectivity, and difference in Mumbai's slum frontier. Antipode, 45(4), 844-865.
4. Echanove, M. & Srivastava, R. (2014). The Slum Outside. Strelka University Press.
5. Harvey, D. (2003). The New Imperialism. Oxford University Press.
6. Mehta, M. (2024). 540 acres of Suburban Land Identified for Relocation Dharavi’s Ineligible Residents. The Times of India.
7. Rajagopal, A. (2001). Technologies of Perception and the Cultures of Globalization: Introduction. Social Text, 19(3), 1-8.
8. Weinstein, L. (2014). The durable slum: Dharavi and the right to stay put in globalizing Mumbai. University of Minnesota Press.