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• A Maharashtra government-appointed committee has submitted an interim report recommending the removal of eight religious structures and the relocation or consolidation of three others in Dharavi Sector 1 as part of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.
• The recommendations are based on the Supreme Court's September 29, 2009 cut-off date for unauthorised religious structures on public land, with post-cut-off structures proposed for removal.
• The committee has identified 590 religious structures across the redevelopment area and has begun a phase-wise review, having conducted 149 hearings involving trusts, community representatives and government officials.
• The report marks an important step in resolving land-use issues for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project while attempting to balance legal requirements, redevelopment objectives and religious sensitivities.
A Maharashtra government-appointed committee has recommended the removal and relocation of several religious structures in Dharavi as part of the ongoing Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), marking a significant milestone in one of India's largest urban renewal initiatives. The interim report focuses on 12 priority religious structures in Sector 1, recommending the removal of eight structures and the relocation or consolidation of three others, while excluding one structure following a revision of project boundaries.
The recommendations have been made after examining the legal status and construction timeline of each structure against the Supreme Court's directive of September 29, 2009, which prohibits the regularisation of unauthorised religious structures built on public land after the cut-off date. Accordingly, the committee has proposed the removal of structures that came up after this deadline, while suggesting relocation or consolidation for certain older religious establishments that predate the order.
Among the structures recommended for removal are the Muthmaruyamma Trust structure, two Hanuman temples, two Shiv temples, and three Sai Baba temples. The committee has also proposed relocating or consolidating Shree Dashmani Hanuman Temple, Mariamman Temple, and Shree Kartik Swami Mandir as part of the redevelopment exercise.
The committee was constituted by the Maharashtra government to examine religious structures falling within the Dharavi redevelopment area and recommend appropriate action while balancing legal requirements with community interests. According to the interim report, 590 religious structures have been identified across the redevelopment project area. The committee has so far completed 149 hearings, interacting with religious trusts, local stakeholders and government authorities before arriving at its initial recommendations.
Officials indicated that the current report covers only the first set of priority structures in Sector 1, with further phase-wise assessments expected for the remaining religious structures. The committee is also exploring the possibility of consolidating multiple nearby religious establishments into common facilities wherever stakeholders agree, reducing the need for outright demolition while accommodating redevelopment requirements.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is among the country's most ambitious urban regeneration programmes, aiming to transform one of Asia's largest informal settlements into an integrated township with modern housing, infrastructure, roads, utilities and commercial spaces. However, the presence of numerous religious structures has emerged as one of the complex challenges requiring careful resolution before large-scale construction can proceed.
Urban planning experts note that addressing religious structures through a transparent legal process is critical for maintaining public confidence while ensuring that redevelopment progresses without prolonged disputes. The committee's recommendations attempt to strike a balance between judicial directives, redevelopment objectives and religious sensitivities by distinguishing between structures based on their legal status and construction period.
The Maharashtra government is expected to examine the committee's recommendations before taking a final decision. Subsequent reports covering the remaining religious structures across Dharavi will play an important role in determining the pace of implementation of the redevelopment project, which seeks to rehabilitate thousands of families while modernising one of Mumbai's most densely populated urban settlements.
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