Gautam Adani secures controversial renovation project in Dharavi
- Dharavi, home to one million residents and a thriving informal economy, employs around 20,000 businesses, generating a turnover of approximately one billion dollars annually.
- In November 2022, the Maharashtra government awarded a slum renovation project to billionaire Gautam Adani, igniting fears of displacing local residents.
- The community remains uncertain about their future as redevelopment plans threaten their homes and livelihoods.
In India, Dharavi, the largest slum in Asia, is home to about one million residents living in challenging conditions. The local economy thrives with around 20,000 businesses and a total annual turnover of approximately one billion dollars, despite the impoverished image often portrayed in media. Recently, the Maharashtra government granted a significant project to renovate this slum to Gautam Adani, a prominent billionaire and business tycoon, following a bidding process conducted in November 2022. This decision has met with concern from local residents, who fear that the redevelopment plans could force them from their homes, mirroring past failed attempts at similar projects. Previous redevelopment efforts were met with local resistance, leading to their termination, but Adani's close ties with political leaders have raised the stakes in this latest attempt, prompting anxiety about community displacement amidst real estate speculation in India. Uncertainty looms for artisans like Yusuf Galwani, who fear for their livelihoods as the region faces potential transformation into a business district.