Dharavi Project: Supreme Court Refuses To Stay Redevelopment Work

The Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed against the Dharavi redevelopment project, refused to stay the construction work that has already been initiated.

The apex court agreed with the Adani Group's argument that the project to redevelop Asia's largest slum has started, with significant investment made and scores of people employed.

The bench, led by Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna, was hearing a petition moved by Sectalink Technologies Corp. The petition challenged the decision of the Maharashtra government to award the Dharavi redevelopment project to Adani Property Ltd.

The petitioner sought a status quo to be imposed in the matter. The top court, while refusing to stay the redevelopment work, has decided to hear the plea in May.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared before the CJI-led bench on behalf of the Adani Group, pointed out that about 2,000 people are employed in the redevelopment project, and and staying the work could cause irreparable and irreversible damage.

The work has already started, and crores of machines and goods have already been installed, Rohatgi said.

The petitioner, Sectalink Technologies, approached the Supreme Court after his petition in the matter was dismissed by the Bombay High Court.

While refusing to impose a stay on the Dharavi project as sought by the petitioner, CJI Khanna said that work has started there and some railway quarters have also been broken.

Notably, the bid to redevelop what has often been touted as one of the world's biggest slums was won by the Adani Group in 2022 at a cost of Rs 5,069 crore. Navbharat Mega Developers—as the entity is now known—was set up to undertake the 259-hectare redevelopment project.

Under the project, the Maharashtra government has decided to provide free housing to eligible residents of Dharavi. Additionally, the state government will offer affordable housing to ineligible residents under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or through a hire-purchase scheme.

The state government has also planned to allocate 10% of the built-up area of rehabilitation component for commercial spaces, creating a revenue-generating model.

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