Adani to start data collection for Mumbai slum redevelopment in February

Only residents who lived in Dharavi before the year 2000 will be eligible for the free housing. The last survey of the area was conducted 15 years ago, and some estimates suggest that around 700,000 ineligible inhabitants could be relocated from Dharavi.

This has raised concerns about lost livelihoods or high rent payments for these individuals.

In the door-to-door survey, the Adani-led firm will use questionnaires to gather details of Dharavi occupants, including whether they use the premises for residential or commercial purposes, proofs of ownership, and biometric data, according to S.V.R. Srinivas, head of the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority overseeing the project.

"Teams will visit each house... biometric data will be collected," Srinivas said in an interview. "The objective is to ensure that all eligible people receive houses, and no ineligible individuals gain undue advantage."

Indian opposition parties have protested the redevelopment, claiming that the state government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party, and other allies unfairly favored Adani when the company won the $614 million redevelopment bid. Both the state and Adani deny any wrongdoing.

Adani has assembled global teams for the project, and Srinivas expects the redevelopment to commence within a year. The survey will occur in two parts, with a pilot phase executed within three to four weeks involving a few hundred residents.

The full exercise is expected to take nine months. The final eligibility of residents for free homes or relocation will be determined by the Dharavi Redevelopment Authority, and additional staff will be hired soon to oversee the survey and the project, Srinivas added.