Aksa-Malvani Land: Green Light Process Begins for Dharavi Rehab

In a significant procedural step for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) formed by the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group has submitted a Terms of Reference (ToR) application to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for the Aksa-Malvani land parcel.

The application pertains to a 140-acre plot designated for the rehabilitation of ineligible slum dwellers from Dharavi, as allocated via a gazetted notification dated October 11, 2024. While physical possession of the land is still pending, the ToR submission marks the first formal step in securing environmental clearance—a process expected to take six to seven months, according to experts.

The ToR outlines the proposed scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), detailing parameters such as built-up areas, building configurations, parking provisions, and green zones. While the submission does not constitute final land-use approval, it initiates multi-agency scrutiny involving bodies such as the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Authority, Civil Aviation, and the State Environment Department.

Of the 541.2 acres earmarked for the overall redevelopment, 63.51 acres have already been transferred for rehabilitation efforts. Additional ToR applications for other land parcels located within a 30-kilometre radius of Dharavi are expected to follow in the coming months.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.