Dharavi Redevelopment Project: Govt Authorities Issues Vacate Notice to Matunga Slum Dwellers Ahead of Monsoon

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) Authority has issued a public notice urging residents of several slum settlements on railway land in Matunga to vacate their homes. The move aims to clear the area before the onset of the monsoon and the start of the new academic year to facilitate the construction of critical rehabilitation facilities.

The notice specifically targets residents of Ganesh Nagar-Meghwadi, SVP Nagar, Azad Nagar A, B, and C, and Kamala Raman Nagar. These clusters have been identified as essential sites for the development of "key-to-key" rehabilitation housing, intended to house thousands of families currently residing in Dharavi.

Officials stated that the Matunga railway land was incorporated into the Dharavi Notified Area (DNA) with the intent of using it as a primary site for rehabilitation buildings. However, the presence of existing settlements has necessitated a phased evacuation to allow construction to begin.

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“Early vacating will enable multiple construction fronts to open up and ensure faster delivery of rehabilitation homes,” a DRP official explained. The authority emphasised that timely cooperation from residents would prevent project delays and minimise the disruption caused by construction activities to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

The redevelopment plan for Sector 6, which encompasses the Matunga land, includes the construction of approximately 11,000 modern tenements. Under the project guidelines, eligible residents will receive 350 sq. ft. units—a significant upgrade from the 300 sq. ft. standard provided in other Mumbai slum rehabilitation schemes.

For residents deemed ineligible for in-situ rehabilitation within Dharavi, the state has identified separate land parcels across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) for relocation under a hire-purchase arrangement.