In a bid to redevelop one of Asia’s largest slums, the Adani group-led Dharavi Redevelopment Project Ltd (DRPPL) has brought on board a global team, which includes architect Hafeez Contractor, US design firm Sasaki and consultancy firm Buro Happold, Reuters reported on Monday.

The Maharashtra government issued a new tender for the redevelopment of Dharavi with modified terms, in November 2022. And the ports-to-power conglomerate emerged as the highest bidder (Rs 5,069 crore), winning the rights to develop Dharavi. (Also read: The untold story of Gautam Adani’s Dharavi tryst.) As it stands now, the Maharashtra government holds a 20% stake in the redevelopment project, while the Gautam Adani-led conglomerate holds the rest. The group has promised to invest Rs 21,000 crore in the first phase of the redevelopment.

Announcing the partnership with the global team, a DRPPL spokesperson told The Indian Express that the larger goal is to “elevate the quality of life of the residents of Dharavi while nurturing the essence of its vibrant culture”.

“We anticipate the harmonious fusion of expertise from our world-class partners and the vibrancy and spirit of Dharavi’s citizens to cultivate a model of urban redevelopment that the world can look up to and can be replicated across other locations and cities,” the spokesperson said.

The consortium of newly onboarded partners will be led by Hafeez Contractor, who has extensively worked on social housing and several projects related to slum rehabilitation in the city. The team also comprises 70-year-old, Boston-headquartered firm Sasaki, which specializes in architecture, interior design and space planning; UK-based Buro Happold, known for environmentally conscious infrastructure solutions; and experts from Singapore.

While the idea of redeveloping Dharavi has been floating for decades, it was only in 2004 that the state government granted approval for it and tasked the Slum Rehabilitation Authority with planning the project.

However, the model redevelopment, which will significantly shape the landscape and real estate of the country’s financial capital, has been far from smooth. With the entry of the Adani group, things have been especially rocky. Last month, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) along with its leader, the former Maharashtra chief minister, led a march from Dharavi to the Adani group's office in Mumbai, protesting against the redevelopment project and alleging government favouritism. Thackeray is just one among the many opposition politicians and critics who have repeatedly said that the Dharavi redevelopment gives the Adani group transfer of development rights worth billions. According to a Reuters report, these could yield the Adani group a revenue of up to $24 billion. For more context, read: Could the Dharavi redevelopment controversy become Adani’s biggest headache?