Mumbai Dharavi Project: The long-stalled Dharavi redevelopment project has once again become the centre of controversy, with former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray voicing his opposition to the recent decision to award the project to the Adani Group. Dharavi, one of the largest slum areas in Asia, has been the subject of redevelopment plans for nearly two decades. Spreading across 2.8 square kilometres in the heart of Mumbai, the area is home to an informal economy, with thousands employed in the leather and pottery industries.

In 2004, the Maharashtra government first unveiled plans to transform Dharavi into a modern, high-rise township, with the goal of relocating the area's 68,000 residents and providing them with free housing. However, the project has faced numerous hurdles over the years, leading to delays and repeated failed attempts to attract private developers.

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Adani Emerges As Highest Bidder

The latest development saw the Adani Group emerge as the highest bidder, offering a staggering Rs 5,069 crore for the project. This bid was significantly higher than the Rs 2,025 crore offer from the DLF Group, the other qualified bidder.

Uddahv Thackeray Critisises Adani Group's Bid

However, the move has drawn the ire of Uddhav Thackeray, who served as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra until 2022. Thackeray has strongly opposed the decision to award the project to the Adani Group, arguing that the bid was too low and that the process lacked transparency.

"The Dharavi redevelopment project is crucial for the people living in the area, and it's imperative that the government ensures a fair and transparent process," Thackeray said in a statement. "The Adani Group's bid, in my opinion, does not adequately reflect the true value of the land and the needs of the residents."

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The former Chief Minister's concerns echo the long-standing issues that have plagued the Dharavi redevelopment project. Residents have often expressed fears that the plan would displace them and disrupt their livelihoods, while critics have raised questions about the potential for corruption and lack of community involvement in the decision-making process.

SVR Srinivas, the chief executive officer of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, has defended the decision to award the project to the Adani Group, arguing that the bidding process was transparent and competitive.