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Dharavi dreams: Inside the plan to transform Asia’s largest slum

Dharavi’s unique advantage is that it squats, 620 acres of swamp, sewer and slums, right in the heart of Mumbai

Published on: May 27, 2025, 05:37:36 IST

By Shashank Rao, Ateeq Shaikh

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“Dharavi is the Malabar Hill of Indian slums,” said Kiran Dighavkar. He was the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) assistant commissioner of G-north ward — under which Dharavi falls — during Covid, and widely lauded for his handling of the lockdown in the world’s third largest and densest slum. “If anyone living in a slum in India gets a marriage proposal from Dharavi, it’s considered a leg-up for them.”

Dharavi’s unique advantage is that it squats 620 acres of swamp, sewer and slums, right in the heart of Mumbai. (Raju Shinde/HT )

Unlike the two other slums larger than it — Khayelitsha in Cape

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

...Read MoreShashank Rao is a Senior Assistant Editor having worked for over two decades. He reports on Mass Transportation including Railways and Roadways, Automobiles besides Urban Public Infrastructure. With ear to the ground, he is monitors and reports Mumbai's growth trajectory. He is a Rail fan, passionate about Public Policy. When I'm not busy, I read comics and watch anime and football. Read Less

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

...Read MoreAteeq Shaikh is a Senior Assistant Editor tracking real estate and infrastructure. With over two decades in journalism, he has reported extensively on topics such as metro rail, infrastructure projects, redevelopment in Mumbai, affordable housing, real estate, environmental issues and public transportation. His data driven stories explain the impact of public policy and large scale infrastructure projects on citizens' lives. His recent detailed report on the government's fireside sale of several real estate parcels in Mumbai or nearly one-fifth of habitable Mumbai triggered a signature campaign by activists and the civil society. This plan also faced pushback from people impacted by the government's decision, which he also reported on. Ateeq was instrumental in getting Mumbai Metro One Private Limited, a Public - Partnership (PPP) project, recognised under the Right to Information Act, the first PPP in India under the transparency law. His consistent campaign on technical issues plaguing the Mumbai Monorail, India's only such transportation system, forced authorities to publicly acknowledge the problems and work towards a permanent fix. Despite multiple attempts by the authorities, the system continues to be a white elephant in Mumbai. Read Less

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