The Adani Dharavi Project faces fresh hurdles over the rehabilitation of thousands of families. The planned housing site at Deonar remains stuck in approval delays. The Maharashtra government had earmarked 124 acres for rehabilitation housing in October 2024. However, cleanup work at the Deonar landfill has not started yet. RTI records reviewed by The Indian Express show a delay of over six months.
The BMC awarded a Rs 2,537-crore contract to Hyderabad-based Navayuga Engineering Company Limited (NECL). The contractor initially had to secure approvals and begin work by January 2026. However, five of seven statutory clearances remain pending. The BMC later extended the deadline to September 30. Officials now expect bioremediation work to begin around November.
Five key clearances remain pending, delaying Deonar landfill cleanup and raising concerns over the rehabilitation of thousands of Dharavi families.
Also Read : N Chandrasekaran May Step Down as Tata Sons Chairman Ahead of August 18 AGM
The delay could affect the wider Adani Dharavi Project timeline. The Dharavi masterplan received approval in May 2025. Under the plan, authorities must provide homes to all eligible residents within seven years. The Deonar site will house residents who cannot receive homes within Dharavi. They will receive rented homes for 12 years before ownership transfers to them.
NECL said environmental laws caused delays in the approval process. The company initially believed it would not need environmental clearance. However, authorities later required several permissions because of the site’s sensitive location. The site sits near mangroves, tidal water bodies and a flamingo habitat. It also requires approval from the Bombay High Court for work near mangroves.
The BMC defended the decision to extend the contractor’s deadline. Officials said cancelling the existing tender would cause further delays. Meanwhile, Adani Navbharat Developers said construction will start only after all environmental approvals. Experts must also certify the site as safe for habitation. Therefore, the Adani Dharavi Project now faces a key challenge in meeting its planned rehabilitation schedule.
Also Read : Maharashtra’s New Anti-Conversion Law Invoked for the First Time in Pune