Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. Ltd. (DRPPL), a collaboration between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, is making significant efforts to incentivise residents and businesses in the Adani Dharavi slum cluster to facilitate the resettlement and rehabilitation process. Valued at $3 billion, the project aims for completion within seven years.

Various incentives have already been introduced, with more on the horizon. This initiative affects not only the vast population of over one million residents but also numerous industries, such as pottery, textiles, leather, and waste recycling.

Opportunities and Incentives Await Approval for Dharavi Redevelopment Project
The Adani Dharavi redevelopment project is creating favorable buzz even as it awaits final approval of the project's master plan. The project aims to empower inhabitants through upskilling, vocational training, and educational programs, going beyond simple housing. This forward-thinking approach aims to equip locals with useful skillsets, opening doors to new career opportunities and developing a more self-sufficient community inside the restored Dharavi.

A recent highlight from DRPPL emphasises tax refunds for eligible commercial units, wherein State Goods and Services Tax will be reimbursed for five years. The tender specifies that the state government's finance department will repay SGST for industrial and commercial units through DRP/SRA.

Additionally, the project exempts stamp duty on the first sale of commercial properties by DRPPL and ensures well-defined commercial zones with essential infrastructure.

Earlier commitments include providing rehabilitated residents with 350 square feet of apartments, 17% larger than typical Mumbai slum redevelopments, with separate kitchens and toilets.

Billionaire Gautam Adani, spearheading the project, aims to improve living conditions and amenities for Dharavi residents and complete this long-awaited redevelopment within the set timeframe. Drawing inspiration from Singapore's best practices, the project involves renowned architect Hafeez Contractor and international consultancy firms and experts.

Community Engagement and Participation
At its core, the development philosophy advocates the participation of Dharavi's residents in the decision-making process regarding their resettlement, which is their birth right. Aware that community involvement is essential, Adani introduces a consultative approach in the execution of the project. Through every stage of the process; stakeholders are consulted.
Adani, in association with community representatives, will conduct meetings, appointment-based discussions, and participatory planning exercises to gather information about the distinctive needs of the Dharavi residents. The bottom-up approach ensures that rehabilitation initiatives are customised not only to the generic community needs but also to its specific requirements, making them more effective and sustainable in the long run.

In addition, Adani believes that Dharavians should not only believe in themselves but also in one another. Hence, they will be empowered to participate by implementing and managing many initiatives. Resident engagement goes beyond the building of a community of housing units. Their involvement even extends to the operation of communal facilities, resulting in residents having power over their lives.

Sustainable Urban Development
Along with its sustainability policy, Adani combines ecological awareness with remediation skills. The firm Adani is positioning itself as a vanguard in various green building technologies and renewable energy solutions to minimise environmental footprints and increase resource efficiency.

However, Adani understands more than anyone that infrastructure resiliency is key to an unshaken shelter in case of climate change and other disasters. By including disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation in its designs, Adani attempts to create a safer and more habitable zone for its Dharavi dwellers.

The Way Forward
Adani's attempt to build a rebuild Dharavi is a game changer in the way urban poverty and inequality are addressed. By developing cohesive infrastructure concurrently with social empowerment interventions in its Adani Dharavi project, Adani is providing the means to a fairer and just future for the inhabitants of Dharavi. This is one of the biggest projects that will set precedence for others to follow.
Nevertheless, it is of paramount importance that Adani seeks contributions and shares ideas with the government, NGOs, and community leaders to accomplish the efforts.

Conclusion
In the end, Adani's effort to put Dharavi back on the map is the only silver lining, stripping the multitude of concerns that urban slums epitomise. Through the utilisation of its knowledge, resources, and dedication to social responsibility, Adani has a golden chance of being the pioneer in sustainable urban development approaches that can be applied in slums in almost every part of the country.
This is, in fact, a way forward to change the whole country's image. As Dharavi starts on this transition path, the whole world is entertained by this dreamy scenario, the success of which depends on whether everyone, apart from their circumstances, can have the chance to be wealthy and lead a fulfilled life.