Dharavi is a densely populated area in Mumbai, often called one of the world's largest slums. It's home to about a million people living in a compact 2.39 square kilometres.

During a recent rally in Mumbai, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group of selling off Mumbai, explicitly targeting the Dharavi area. He emphasised Dharavi's significance as a manufacturing hub and criticised the government's approach, stating, "Dharavi is the real Make in India... the nation is shaped by the people of Dharavi, not by brokers." He further alleged the Centre used police force to evict residents for the redevelopment project.

A closer look at Dharavi reveals a startling fact that our policymakers fail to admit or act on. Dharavi's biggest problem is the reckless parking of vehicles around this place. It makes the roads narrow for both pedestrians and vehicular traffic. It also hampers sanitation workers' routine cleaning of the area. Encroachment of pavements by shopkeepers in the surrounding areas make Dharavi look crammed and inaccessible.

In response to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's accusations of favouritism regarding the Dharavi redevelopment project, the Adani Group has vehemently denied the claims, labelling them as "preposterous, malicious, and unfounded."

The joint venture between the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group, managing the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, rebuffed Rahul Gandhi's accusations, asserting that the selection process was based on merit alone. The Adani Group secured the contract through a competitive tender process, submitting the highest bid among national and international participants. The terms and conditions of the tender were finalised during the previous Maha Vikas Aghadi government, which included the Congress party.

While Rahul Gandhi is a political leader, and it's his job to raise issues that concern people, it's surprising that a business organisation of Adani Group's size and stature fails to take note of what is wrong with Dharavi.

It's not about some foreigners being intrigued or amused by Dharavi slums or poverty in India. It's not about why the Adani Group would be interested in a politically sensitive project like the redevelopment of Dharavi, either.

What is wrong about Dharavi is wrong for the nation, too. That giving a 350-sq-ft housing unit is a new standard in urban redevelopment is as much a commentary on Dharavi redevelopment as it is about previous such efforts, when even smaller housing units were given.

When thousands of families live in such small accommodations, it creates a ground for mental health diseases, high school and college drop-out rates, lack of privacy, and mob culture.

In one such redevelopment project at Nariman Point, a residential tower now stands where there used to be a slum — crowded, filthy, dark, and noisy. While clean dwellings have replaced the stink and darkness, the small living space and the same livelihood struggles have made hopelessness complete and permanent. In many cases, those having a 250 square foot space are letting out balconies to a group of 4-5 labourers for about Rs 20,000 a month. That's a reasonable sum of money. It can ensure a family's grocery bills for a month. Now, think of how the families live and how kids study. Some have opened a beauty parlour or a salon, and others have set up a side hustle. Even past the midnight, the tower is bustling with activities. Even before 5 in the morning, people are revving the engines of their scooters, motorcycles, and cars. Three-wheeler drivers have their hands on the horn.

What Rahul Gandhi said in his Mumbai address is correct. Dharavi is just the beginning. More than half of Mumbai is a slum, and those who know Mumbai know Dharavi is not the biggest of the slums. If the Dharavi redevelopment project is a model, you should not be surprised that Adanis and others will be in the business of urban redevelopment for the next 100 years in Mumbai alone. Delhi and Kolkata are equally in mess.

Let Adani Group and its engineers produce a paper on what's essentially wrong with Dharavi, if not the municipal woes of illegal parking, encroachments, and dust and noise pollution. Will the Adani-led Dharavi project provide specialist hospitals? Will it ban illegal parking and honking near the residential areas? Will it ensure children have a peaceful environment for study? If not, we would love Dharavi the way it is — a celebration of people's struggle against poverty and hardships. No one should try to institutionalize this struggle. If they want to do anything, they should stop illegal parking and encroachments from that area. Dharavi will be an oasis in the desert! (IPA Service)