Slum Areas in Mumbai: A Candid Exploration of Daily Life

Amidst the bustling cityscape and towering skyscrapers, lies a tapestry of resilience, strength, and vibrant communities in the slum areas of Mumbai. Often overshadowed by stereotypes and misconceptions, these neighbourhoods tell a story of hope, determination, and an unyielding spirit that thrives against all odds.

Almost half of the people who call this city of dreams reside in dwelling units unsuitable for human habitation. Slums and illegal communities have sprouted up all over the place. But why are so many people in the country’s financial capital compelled to settle in such poor housing structures as chawls and slums? How did Mumbai’s cityscape come to have such a striking contrast? And what factors contribute to the continued ascent of slum areas in Mumbai to prominence with every passing day? Let’s find out more about Mumbai’s slum population. 

Mumbai’s Chawls and Slums 

A wide variety of unorthodox housing arrangements are seen in Mumbai due to necessity. Examples of unorthodox housing patterns, such as the chawls and slums, can be found worldwide. Social practises such as public sleeping, public bathing, and even the sharing of civic services like water and toilet taps are encouraged by the overcrowding in these densely populated districts. 

List of Slum Areas in Mumbai

• Dharavi
• Mankhurd
• Ghatkopar
• Sion-Koliwada
• Worli-BDD Chawls
• Malvani

These living arrangements, which date back to British colonial control in India in the early 1800s, have evolved to meet the needs of an expanding population in a small area. Post-colonial Mumbai experienced rapid urbanisation thanks to the development of efficient public transit infrastructure in the mid-19th century. 
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From tents to chawls, apartments to bungalows and high-rise towers, the city has seen a wide range of housing options emerge from this rapid development.

Housing Division for Mumbaikars 

The city’s spontaneous growth of formally and informally developed properties has left Mumbai’s geography with a smear of territorial boundaries. 

This ranges from a six-foot stretch of sleepable space to an undefined tenancy scenario shared by three families, “renting” a room together. Pavements give way to jhopad-patties, which in turn give way to unlawful buildings that are only semi-permanent. Another spectrum connects these constructions to chawls as well as other types of dwellings that are below standard. Above this tier are the apartments owned or rented by members of the vast middle class, and above them are the flats and houses possessed by the rich and the extremely rich.

The types of housing found in slum communities range from tents to mud and thatch huts to constructions made of brick and cement. The size of each unit is often less than eight by eight feet, and no public amenities are available. The boundaries of neighbourhoods do not neatly classify these dwellings for one fundamental reason: the poor who lack stable housing can be found anywhere. 

Slums are usually home to poor, lower-class citizens and migrants who live in the cities in quest of employment. However, people often stay in their cramped slum homes even after they’ve made some money and can afford to leave. These temporary squatter dwellings were only located near the places of employment during the colonial era. On the other hand, after India gained independence, these colonies moved gradually to less desirable metropolis regions, such as wastelands or marshy areas near railway tracks. 

Housing For the Working Class in Colonial Mumbai 

In 1661, the Portuguese presented the city of Mumbai to the King of England. Two years later, in 1668, the King of England granted the East India Company a lease on the city so that it might be used for commercial purposes. At that time, Mumbai was made up of three different parts:
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• The main castle was located on Bombay Island.
• The Mahim annexation.
• The eight villages of Parel, Mezagaon, Varlu, Matunga, Vadadla, Colaba, Naigaum, and Dharavi.

In 1715, a fort wall was built in place of the castle that once stood on Bombay Island due to the island’s growing population. 

The city was reorganised due to the rising encroachment of village homes towards the fort area, and the Great Fire of 1803 devastated a vast amount of Indian merchant property. This reorganisation was the impetus for the relocation of the Indians to the area north of the fort wall. 

In addition, it resulted in the British “distilling” the fort area of native tribes and pushing development outside the fort walls. The British established textile factories to the north of the walled city. This sort of industrialisation was the impetus behind the proliferation of chawls in the 1850s and during the Cotton Boom of 1860. These mills may be found in places like Tardeo, Lalbag, and West Parel, which are now part of the central business district of Mumbai. The growth of Mumbai’s manufacturing sector led to an increase in demand for residential and commercial real estate to accommodate the city’s growing middle and lower classes. Workers from lower- and middle-class families were forced to live in less desirable areas, which were commonly located close to factories because they could not afford more ideal locations. As a result of this practice, many migratory mill employees settled in neighbourhoods that were considered undesirable, creating enclaves of segregation within the city. Which we now know as the: slum area in Mumbai.
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Housing for Mumbai’s Working Class in the Post-Colonial Era 

As a result of the influx of migrants and refugees that occurred in the years after World War II in independent India, the lack of available housing quickly became one of the country’s most pressing concerns. By 1951, the typical occupancy of a living area had increased to six people then. The physical manifestation of this issue was seen in the form of slum settlements. 

The British authorities did not demonstrate any concern regarding the growth of the slums. It was a lucrative plan because the economy was supported by low-cost labour despite the state’s very little investment. After the country gained independence, the Indian government announced that it would eradicate slums and replace them with “standard” housing for the working class. This contradiction between providing better accommodation for slum inhabitants and enabling permanent residences for slum dwellers over their lawfully or invaded and annexed land persists.
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Location and Characteristics of Mumbai Slums

Mumbai is one of India’s most populated and prosperous cities. The Dharavi, Mankhurd-Govandi belt, Kurla-Ghatkopar belt, Dindoshi, and The Bhandup-Mulund slums are some of the largest slums in the world. The main characteristics of these slums are:

• High Poverty Rate

• A High Rate of Unemployment

• Large-Scale Urban Deterioration;

• Breeding Grounds for Societal Ills Like Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Crime, etc.;

• High Incidence of Suicide, Mental Disorders, etc.;

• Locals’ Low Degree of Economic Status;

• Inadequate Facilities for the Infrastructure;

• Acute Malnutrition Issue

• Lack Of Water for Drinking;

• Absence Of Essential Healthcare;

• Unclean And Unsanitary Surroundings;

• Bad Quality of Life or a Low Level of Existence.

Top Facts about the Slums of Mumbai

• Mumbai, bordered by water on three sides, hasbeen battling to find more room since the colonial period. Growing economic prospects in the city have brought in a steady flow of migrants from other regions of India, which adds to the burden. For most of these migrants, formal housing is out of reach due to a lack of cheap housing and a constant rise in real estate prices in the city.

• The Bandra Kurla Complex, one of Asia’s wealthiest corporate centres, lies adjacent to Dharavi. People may quickly get to work because of its closeness to Mumbai’s two major suburban train lines. Numerous prospering small-scale businesses in Dharavi make high-quality ceramics, plastic, leather products for export, and embroidered clothing. It is a settlement that is very varied, multi-ethnic, and multi-religious. According to Wikipedia, Dharavi has a literacy rate of 69 per cent, making it one of the most literate slums in all of India.

• The majority of slum homes lack private toilets and faucets. Residents must pay to use the seldom serviced public restrooms and purchase expensive water from vendors. In the slums of Mumbai, some toilets are without power while others are without water. There are many slum homes without adequate doors.

• In addition to the millions of people that reside in the slums of Mumbai, the city also has a sizable population of homeless individuals who cannot afford any long-term housing. Around one lakh homeless persons are officially counted in the city. Some claim that the actual number may be far higher.

• The state government of Mumbai has been making efforts to rehabilitate the slums since the 1990s out of concern over the growing number of slums and to free up land. If private developers can get the support of the neighbourhood’s present inhabitants, the Slum Rehabilitation Authority permits the construction of new homes in formerly slum areas. The occupants must be given free housing by the developer in the newly built structures. The remaining building space might then be utilised to create luxurious skyscrapers for sale to businesses. Thus, these slum restoration initiatives allow developers to access premium real estate while revitalising the neighbourhood.

List of Slums in Mumbai

There are mainly three slum-declared areas in Mumbai. Here’s the list-

1. Dharavi
2. Banganga and
3. Antop Hill

Of the three, Dharavi has a reputation that spans the globe.

This can perhaps be attributed to how often Dharawi is portrayed in popular media.

Dharavi Slum Tour

Dharavi is the biggest slum in Mumbai, with a population of over one million people living in an area of just 2.1 square kilometres. Despite being known as one of the poorest areas in Mumbai, Dharavi is also famous for its thriving informal economy, including small-scale manufacturing, leather tanning, and recycling.

One of the most popular activities for tourists visiting Mumbai is a Dharavi slum tour. This guided walking tour offers a unique perspective on life in Dharavi, allowing visitors to see firsthand the industries, markets, and residential areas that make up this vibrant community.

During a Dharavi slum tour, visitors can expect to see the following:

1. Small-scale industries: Dharavi is home to a thriving informal economy, with small-scale industries such as pottery, embroidery, and soap-making operating out of the slum.
2. Markets and shops: Dharavi has a bustling market district, where vendors sell everything from fresh produce to handmade textiles.
3. Residential areas: Visitors can also expect to see the narrow lanes and tightly packed houses where Dharavi residents live.

The World’s Largest Slum: Dharavi

The name of Mumbai’s biggest slum area is generally assumed to be Dharavi, although there are more slums in Mumbai. Dharavi was established by the British during the 19th century to provide housing for industrial employees and the needy who were moving from rural India to Mumbai.

This slum is known as “chotta Tamil Nadu” because it has a higher-than-average concentration of Tamil people (people from Tamil Nadu) (small Tamil Nadu).

This land was just a mangrove marsh in the 18th century. Several hundred Koli fishermen established the Koliwada hamlet in this area around the start of the 19th century making it the largest slum in Mumbai.

By the middle of the 19th century, many Indians seeking employment with the East India Company had moved to Mumbai, where the population had skyrocketed. The city’s population density was ten times greater than London’s.

Indians with modest incomes began to establish themselves in Dharavi. In 1895, the British government granted them a 99-year lease to make things simpler. To establish industries, schools, mosques, temples, and other structures, these people established little villages inside them.

Following India’s independence from the British, Dharavi, now the biggest slum area in Mumbai began to be used as a landfill. Dharavi transformed into Mumbai’s rubbish bin as it developed into a city of the highest modernity. Every political party that ruled Mumbai distributed development plans for Dharavi. But the majority of them fell short. To improve the quality of life for those who lived in the slum, a social worker founded the Co-operative Housing Society in Dharavi in 1960.

Many businesses have presented various designs and recommendations for improving and reconstructing Dharavi.

The people of Dharavi and other groups have protested, putting a stop to all plans.

The Dharavi Slums: Colonial Era

In pre-colonial Bombay, the Koli fishing village near Parel’s northern point thrived near Mahim Creek. Unaffected by Portuguese constructions in the 16th century, Dharavi’s Koli community faced challenges when the Riwa Fort, later known as Kala Qila, was built by the British in the 17th century. The 18th century marked the reclamation of Bombay’s wetlands, impacting Mahim Creek and causing the Koli community to disperse. 

Bombay’s industrial growth attracted immigrants, and by the 20th century, Dharavi, now the biggest slum in the world, became home to diverse communities like leather tanners, embroidery workers, and confectioners. Designated as a slum in 1971, improvements were initiated with amenities like water, sewage, and transit camps for residents affected by redevelopment projects.

The Dharavi Slums: Post Independence

Dharavi was designated as a slum when Maharashtra approved the Maharashtra Slum Areas Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment Act in 1971. Along the Sion-Mahim-Link roads, water and sewage lines, taps, toilets, electricity, and other amenities were installed for the people. Transit camps were built to provide housing for those whose homes were in the way of construction projects. Dharavi was designated as a slum when Maharashtra approved the Maharashtra Slum Areas Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment Act in 1971. Along the Sion-Mahim-Link roads, water and sewage lines, taps, toilets, electricity, and other amenities were installed for the people. Transit camps were built to provide housing for those whose homes were in the way of construction projects.

The years that followed were quite eventful for Dharavi. The 1981 Bombay development plan recognised Dharavi’s existence and the necessity for its growth. When Rajiv Gandhi committed Rs. 100 crores in 1985 to enhance Bombay’s housing stock and other facilities, he set aside around 30% for Dharavi. In 1987, the Prime Minister’s Grant Project was launched, and the MHADA established a Special Planning Authority.

Mumbai was gradually destroyed and rebuilt, but this time with a roughly three-fold increase in FSI. The report’s whole premise was built on a public-private partnership to draw massive amounts of finance worldwide into the housing and infrastructure sectors.

In response to the report’s recommendations, the Maharashtra government introduced the Dharavi Redevelopment Plan in 2004. In return for more built-up territory, it envisaged segmenting Dharavi into five sectors and asking companies from across the globe to provide free accommodation to the “qualified” slum people of Dharavi. In Dharavi, this was not well accepted by the populace. The inhabitants of Dharavi had little input on the development plan as a whole, and the policies did not consider their demands.

The Real Estate Landscape of Dharavi

Despite being known as a slum, the real estate landscape of Dharavi is complex and varied. While the majority of the area is made up of informal housing and small-scale industries, there are also formal buildings, commercial spaces, and redevelopment projects underway.

Here are some key facts about the real estate landscape of Dharavi:

• Informal housing: The majority of Dharavi residents live in informal housing, which is often overcrowded and lacking in basic amenities.
• Formal buildings: There are also formal buildings in Dharavi, including apartment complexes and commercial spaces.
• Redevelopment projects: The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is a large-scale initiative aimed at improving living conditions in the slum. The project involves the demolition of existing informal housing and the construction of new buildings, including residential, commercial, and social amenities.

Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP): What is it?

The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) became the Special Planning Authority in 2005. Global proposals were invited in 2007, and a survey was conducted by the government and NGO MASHAL in 2007–2008. However, private sector interest was limited, leading to governmental involvement.

Between 2008–2016, DRP saw relative inactivity. In 2018, the Maharashtra government established a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to boost participation. The BMC approved Development Control Regulations in 2018. SecLink Technologies Corporation and Adani Infrastructure were the only bidders, with STC winning the competition in 2019, pledging Rs. 7,200 crores. Despite progress, the project faced another period of stagnation. In 2020, the Maharashtra government decided to reinvite bids, marking a new chapter for the long-pending Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

Dharavi Slum Redevelopment Project: Latest Updates

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is a large-scale initiative aimed at improving living conditions in the slum. The project was first proposed in 2004 and has faced numerous delays and setbacks in the years since. However, recent updates suggest that the project may finally be moving forward.

Here are some of the latest updates on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project:

• Development plan approval: In 2020, the Maharashtra government approved the development plan for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. The plan includes the construction of new residential and commercial buildings, as well as social amenities such as parks and community centres.
• Land acquisition: One of the biggest challenges facing the Dharavi Redevelopment Project is land acquisition. The project requires the demolition of existing informal housing, which is owned by numerous private parties. However, recent reports suggest that the government has made progress in acquiring the necessary land.
• Project timeline: The timeline for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project is still uncertain. However, officials have suggested that the project could be completed within the next five to seven years.

If you are interested in learning more about the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, or are considering investing in real estate in the area, consider using NoBroker’s real estate services. 

The redevelopment of Dharavi will not only be a game changer for the city of Mumbai, but it will also affect the political scene for many years to come. Experts believe that the initiative will provide residents of slums with a significant opportunity while also assisting urban planners, human rights advocates, and the administration of the state of Maharashtra to change the city’s appearance as a whole. 

Why Dharavi requires High-Rise Buildings 

The authorities in charge of Dharavi’s infrastructure must simultaneously enable many towers to be built while also improving the city’s existing facilities. A look at how this will be helpful: 

• Dharavi’s informal economy generates an estimated $500 million annually, with a relatively low unemployment rate compared to other parts of India.
• Residents’ average income ranges from $500 to $2,000, which is not unusually low by Indian standards, but access to amenities beyond survival needs is limited.
• Dharavi faces high population density, increasing the risk of disease, infant mortality, and reducing life expectancy.
• Proposed solution involves constructing towers to maintain high population density while decongesting living spaces.
• Similar issues in slums are not unique to Dharavi; historical parallels exist in 19th-century western metropolises.
• Dharavi’s potential for improvement hinges on better infrastructure and urbanization policies.
• Slums like Dharavi, despite problems, offer economical housing options for low-income individuals.
• Unofficial verticalization in Dharavi’s residential areas could boost economic activity if given official status.
• Mumbai’s relocation programs for slum dwellers often disregard their preferences and needs.
• Dharavi’s real estate is not cheap, with shanties costing over one crore rupees, emphasizing the need for infrastructure and property rights for residents.

There are so many slum areas in Mumbai that starkly contrast the wealthy urban diaspora of Mumbai. The inhabitants live in dire conditions, and it’s only justified that the slum dwellers get a chance to live with at least basic amenities and standard infrastructure. Besides rehabilitation, it helps improve the city’s skyline too. If you are interested in buying properties in more affordable Mumbai locations, our NoBroker real estate experts can help you zero in on suitable options. We are always happy to help!

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