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Cabinet clears Kurla land transfer terms for Dharavi project: 8.5-hectare land to be allocated for construction of rehabilitation tenements

Cabinet clears Kurla land transfer terms for Dharavi project: 8.5-hectare land to be allocated for construction of rehabilitation tenements

Indian Express03-06-2025
In a move that paved the way for transfer of 8.5-hectare Dairy Development Department plot in Kurla to Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved amendments to the terms and conditions of the land transfer agreement.
The land, which houses the state-run but now defunct Mother Dairy unit, has thus been allocated for the construction of rehabilitation tenements for the ineligible Dharavi residents.
The Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, gave the green signal to align the land transfer agreement with the Housing and Urban Development Department's latest policy framework.
This is aimed at facilitating smoother implementation of the Rs 20,000-crore DRP—considered one of the country's most ambitious urban renewal efforts.
The 8.5-hectare ( 21 acres) Kurla plot was formally transferred through a government resolution issued on June 14, 2024. It will now be handed over to the Dharavi Redevelopment Project-Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP-SRA), which is functioning as the planning authority.
The Adani Group-led Navbharat Mega Developers Private Limited (NMDPL), the private partner executing the DRP, recently approached the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) seeking clearance for constructing rehabilitation tenements on the 21-acre Kurla plot, which houses a significant number of trees.
According to officials, Dharavi's redevelopment entails the rehabilitation of approximately 8.5 lakh residents. While about 5 lakh eligible families will be accommodated within Dharavi's 620-acre project boundary, the remaining 3.5 lakh ineligible or displaced families are to be resettled on alternate land.
The Kurla parcel is among five plots—together measuring 540 acres—earmarked for this purpose. These plots, located within and outside Mumbai, will be used to house ineligible residents on a rental basis. This is in addition to 118.4 acres within Dharavi reserved for commercial development and in-situ rehabilitation.
State officials said the amendments approved by the Cabinet are critical for unlocking the Kurla plot and progressing with early-stage rehabilitation construction. The move is also aligned with the state's 'Housing for All' mission, and is expected to enable the development of not just housing but also civic infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and commercial spaces in new rehabilitation zones.
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