The Maharashtra government approved revised terms and conditions for the use of an 8.5-hectare Mother Dairy plot in Kurla as part of the ambitious Dharavi redevelopment project. The land will now be used to rehabilitate ineligible slum dwellers and will include amenities such as a school, hospital, and shopping complex, according to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).
The approval was granted during a state cabinet meeting held in Mumbai. The move marks a significant step in the implementation of the multi-billion-dollar Dharavi redevelopment plan, which aims to transform India’s largest slum cluster.
Under the scheme, approximately 8.5 lakh families are set to be relocated. Of these, five lakh families deemed eligible will be housed within the redeveloped Dharavi area itself. However, additional land is required to accommodate the remaining 3.5 lakh ineligible families — with the Kurla-based Mother Dairy plot earmarked as one of the key sites for this purpose.
“This policy of ‘home for all’ ensures that even ineligible families receive not only housing but access to essential civic amenities,” the CMO statement noted.
Originally commissioned in 1974, Mother Dairy is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which is recognized as an institution of national importance.
Opposition Mounts Over Land Use
The decision has drawn criticism from opposition parties and even some members of the ruling coalition. Mumbai Congress chief and local MP Varsha Gaikwad strongly opposed the move, accusing the BJP-led Mahayuti government of favoring “one person” through the Dharavi redevelopment, which is being executed by the Adani Group.
Gaikwad argued that Dharavi residents have consistently demanded to be rehabilitated within the slum colony itself, located in central Mumbai. She also raised concerns about the loss of green cover, claiming that over 1,000 trees would be felled for the project.
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress, both part of the opposition alliance, have reiterated their resistance to relocating Dharavi residents outside the cluster. Local residents have also reportedly opposed the use of the Mother Dairy land.
Even Kurla MLA Mangesh Kudalkar, from the Shiv Sena faction allied with the ruling coalition, had earlier opposed the move. Following the issuance of a Government Resolution (GR) last June, Kudalkar advocated for the land to be used for a botanical garden, sports complex, and civic hospital, citing the presence of 700–800 trees on the site. He said he had raised these concerns with then-chief minister and current Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, who had assured him that a hospital and garden would be included in the project.
Toll Waiver Extended
In a separate decision, the cabinet also approved an extension of the toll waiver at five key entry points into Mumbai until September 17, 2029. The waiver, which began on October 14, 2024 — just days ahead of state assembly elections — exempts vehicles from paying tolls at these entry points.
The government has formed a panel headed by the chief secretary to explore compensation mechanisms for MEP Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, which operates the toll booths and maintains 27 flyovers across Mumbai under a contract ending in November 2026.
With inputs from PTI.
