Dharavi Experience Centre launched to build trust among residents: CM Fadnavis
Synopsis
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Dharavi Experience Centre on 2 October, offering residents immersive digital and physical previews of what may be Asia's largest slum redevelopment. With Adani Group as the executing partner and years of community distrust to overcome, the centre is as much a trust-building exercise as it is a showcase — and its success will be judged not by the song launched there, but by whether residents feel genuinely heard.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the Dharavi Experience Centre on 2 October 2025 near BKC, Mumbai .
The centre offers physical and digital previews of rehabilitated homes, industrial spaces, and social infrastructure under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project .
Adani Group MD Pranav Adani , BMC Commissioner Ashwini Bhide , and project CEO Vipin Paliwal were among key attendees.
Fadnavis described Dharavi as a 'major economic engine' , citing pottery, leather, food processing, and plastics recycling industries.
Singer Shankar Mahadevan 's song 'Dharavi Ka Kal' and the book 'Mere Sapno Ki Dharavi' were also launched at the event.
The centre aims to address resident concerns over displacement, livelihoods, and post-redevelopment futures ahead of phased construction.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 2 October 2025, inaugurated the Dharavi Experience Centre near BKC in PMGP Colony's H Block, Mumbai, saying the facility will go beyond blueprints to let residents directly experience their future homes, neighbourhoods, and workplaces under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. Fadnavis said the centre is designed to cut through misinformation and build lasting trust around one of the country's most ambitious urban renewal efforts.
What the Centre Offers
The state-of-the-art centre combines physical and digital previews of the redevelopment plan, offering immersive walkthroughs of rehabilitated homes, industrial spaces, and upcoming social infrastructure. Modern audio-visual and digital technology recreate the journey from Dharavi's present to its envisioned future. Chief Minister Fadnavis noted that residents, stakeholders, and urban planning researchers across the country will benefit from having information on homes, roads, open grounds, social amenities, and employment opportunities consolidated in one place.
What CM Fadnavis Said
Speaking after inspecting the centre, Fadnavis said: 'Dharavi is not just a slum; it is a major economic engine. A significant economy thrives here through Kumbharwada's pottery industry, leather business, food processing, plastic recycling, and various micro, small, and medium enterprises. The redevelopment plan respects these industries and focuses on providing them with better, well-planned workspaces. This is an effort toward comprehensive urban transformation while preserving Dharavi's existing social, cultural, and economic identity.'
He also described the initiative as an ideal example of urban transformation being carried out across India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Key Attendees and Stakeholders
The inauguration was attended by Adani Group Managing Director Pranav Adani, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, Mumbai Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) CEO Dr Mahendra Kalyankar, Dharavi Redevelopment Project CEO and SRA Secretary Vipin Paliwal, and Adani Navbharat Developers Private Ltd CEO Anil Sardana. Adani Navbharat Developers is the Special Purpose Vehicle executing the redevelopment project.
Cultural Launches at the Event
During the inauguration, Fadnavis also launched a special song titled 'Dharavi Ka Kal', sung by renowned singer Shankar Mahadevan, which portrays the changing face of Dharavi. He additionally released a book titled 'Mere Sapno Ki Dharavi'. Both releases are aimed at building an emotional and cultural connection between residents and the transformation ahead.
Context and What Is at Stake
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is one of the largest slum rehabilitation initiatives in Asia, covering a densely populated area that is home to hundreds of thousands of residents and thousands of small enterprises. The project has previously faced concerns from local communities over displacement, land entitlements, and the future of informal livelihoods. Critics have argued that past large-scale urban projects in India often resulted in residents being relocated to the urban periphery, severing economic networks. The Experience Centre is, in part, a direct government response to those concerns — an attempt to make the promised outcomes tangible before demolition and construction begin at scale. How effectively it addresses genuine grievances, rather than simply managing perceptions, will be closely watched by housing rights groups and residents' associations.
The next milestones for the project are expected to involve finalising eligibility criteria for beneficiaries and commencing phased construction. Residents and observers will be watching whether the transparency signalled by the centre translates into meaningful participation in project decisions.
Point of View
But it does not resolve the deeper tensions embedded in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project — who qualifies for rehabilitation, what happens to residents who do not, and whether the project's economic logic preserves or displaces the informal livelihoods that make Dharavi function. The presence of Adani Group at the inauguration will keep scrutiny high, given the project's politically charged history. Trust, in this case, cannot be built with audio-visual technology alone; it requires transparent grievance mechanisms and legally enforceable entitlements — neither of which a centre can substitute for. The real measure of this initiative will be resident turnout at the centre and whether feedback gathered there materially shapes project design.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Dharavi Experience Centre?
The Dharavi Experience Centre is a facility inaugurated by Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on 2 October 2025, near BKC in Mumbai's PMGP Colony H Block. It uses digital and physical displays to show residents and stakeholders what their future homes, workspaces, and social infrastructure will look like under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.
Why was the Dharavi Experience Centre launched?
The centre was launched to counter misinformation, address community concerns, and build trust among Dharavi's residents about the large-scale redevelopment project. CM Fadnavis said it will help residents directly experience their future homes and neighbourhoods rather than relying on blueprints or second-hand information.
Who is executing the Dharavi Redevelopment Project?
The project is being executed by Adani Navbharat Developers Private Ltd, a Special Purpose Vehicle. Key figures at the inauguration included Adani Group MD Pranav Adani and the project's CEO Vipin Paliwal, who also serves as SRA Secretary.
What industries does the Dharavi Redevelopment Project aim to protect?
CM Fadnavis highlighted Dharavi's pottery industry (Kumbharwada), leather trade, food processing, plastic recycling, and various micro, small, and medium enterprises. He said the redevelopment plan will provide these industries with better, well-planned workspaces while preserving Dharavi's social, cultural, and economic identity.
What cultural events took place at the Dharavi Experience Centre inauguration?
CM Fadnavis launched a song titled 'Dharavi Ka Kal', performed by singer Shankar Mahadevan, which depicts Dharavi's transformation. He also released a book called 'Mere Sapno Ki Dharavi' at the same event.
