Upper-Floor Residents Face Eligibility Hurdles in Dharavi Redevelopment Project

Upper-floor residents in the Maharashtra government's ambitious redevelopment project of Asia's largest slum Dharavi may face a critical eligibility hurdle as their rehabilitation prospects will depend on whether the ground-floor occupant qualifies. As per a government resolution dated October 4, 2024, upper-floor households can secure 300 sq ft homes within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region if they prove occupancy before the November 15, 2022 cut-off. This is the first time ever the upper floor residents are being accommodated in any slum rehabilitation project. However, applicants relying on affidavits, classified as the lowest-priority proof, will be disqualified if the corresponding ground-floor unit fails eligibility, said Dharavi Redevelopment Project officials. The policy marks a departure from past slum schemes by including upper-floor residents, but also introduces a layered verification structure that could impact a large section of claimants. Navbharat Mega Developers Private Ltd (NMDPL), formerly known as Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), is the special purpose vehicle (SPV) undertaking the redevelopment of Dharavi spread over nearly 600 acres in the heart of the country's financial capital. An Adani Group entity holds an 80% stake in NMDPL, while the Maharashtra government controls the remaining 20%. The October 2024 government resolution extends rehabilitation benefits to upper-floor residents who can establish occupancy prior to the cut-off date. Eligible beneficiaries will be offered 300 sq ft homes outside Dharavi but within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, with options including a hire-purchase model involving nominal rent payments over 25 years before ownership transfer, or upfront acquisition through a pre-approved payment. According to officials, eligibility will be assessed through a hierarchy of documents. High-priority proofs include electricity bills, registered rent or purchase agreements, and government-issued identity documents reflecting the upper-floor address prior to the cut-off date. Affidavits, placed at the lowest priority, require certification from an eligible ground-floor resident. If the ground-floor household fails to qualify, upper-floor applicants relying solely on affidavits will be rendered ineligible. "An affidavit will not be considered in such cases," a project official said, adding that a majority of upper-floor applicants are currently applying under this category, indicating limited availability of higher-priority documentation. The project has also received claims involving multiple units within a single upper-floor structure. Officials clarified that each unit must independently submit documents under higher-priority categories. Alternatively, multiple units may be treated as a single household under the affidavit route, subject to certification by an eligible ground-floor occupant. The policy restricts allotment to one unit per family, disallowing separate claims by spouses or children. Applicants owning property under other housing schemes within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region will not be eligible, as per the resolution. Officials said the inclusion of upper-floor residents sets a precedent in India's slum rehabilitation landscape, though access to benefits remains closely tied to documentary evidence and, in affidavit-based cases, the eligibility of ground-floor households.