Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 24 (ANI): As the survey phase of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) nears completion, a significant number of residents have been contacting the project’s toll-free helpline to be included, having either missed or not participated in the survey earlier.
According to DRP officials, nearly 700 calls were received in the past month, with about 41 percent of inquiries related to requests for door-to-door or household surveys—an essential step in determining eligibility for the redevelopment scheme. Officials said the response underscores the anxiety among residents about potentially missing out on the housing benefits under the scheme.
The toll-free helpline has logged 300 calls in the last 30 days concerning the eligibility survey alone.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is one of the world’s largest and most inclusive urban renewal initiatives, aiming to uplift over one million residents by providing planned housing, infrastructure, and community services, while preserving the area’s existing social and economic fabric.
Officials noted that only a few tenements and communities have voluntarily opted out of the eligibility survey, including areas such as Kumbharwada, Compound 13, and a few tenements on private lands in various slum pockets. However, officials said even those who initially resisted, including some in Kumbharwada, have begun volunteering to have their tenements numbered over the past two days—signaling a growing awareness that time is running out.
“The calls to the helpline show people are eager to take part in the transformation,” a DRP official said. “We are heartened by the volume and quality of engagement we’re receiving from residents. The fact that nearly half the calls are about the survey process shows that people are informed, interested, and eager to participate in the transformation. We remain committed to a transparent, people-first redevelopment effort that keeps communication open at every stage. This is a ‘housing for all’ project.”
Helpline queries have included requests for a list of documents required for eligibility verification, expected timelines, and information on when new homes will be allotted. Residents also sought details about the ongoing campaign encouraging participation in the survey, the location and size of the new housing units, and numbering of upper floors.
In May, the Maharashtra government approved the Dharavi project’s master plan. The plan aims to enhance Dharavi’s existing characteristics while reimagining it as a world-class district and a new heart for Mumbai. The project promises to improve the “live-work” conditions of Dharavi residents by providing upgraded infrastructure and better public amenities.
The redevelopment will also include accessible social infrastructure. A defined hierarchy of social services will be embedded within walkable neighborhood nodes to ensure that every resident is within easy reach of schools, healthcare, and community facilities, according to an earlier release.
Plans also include a proposed waterfront development and the Dharavi Promenade—a linear open space designed to make the river’s edge accessible. The road network under the project will include widening existing Development Plan (DP) roads and laying out approximately 21 kilometers of new roadways.
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