Dharavi Koliwada, one of Mumbai's seven original fishing villages, sought exclusion of 200,830 sq m of land from the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP). The Dharavi Koli Jamat Trust, representing the fishing community, claimed a committee of revenue and fisheries officials established in November 2018 had concluded this land includes the gaothan (urban village) and areas traditionally used by fishers, and should be excluded. The trust said only fisherfolk houses were excluded, but common and cultural spaces—Holi Maidan (for drying fish and nets), temple, adjoining grounds, three churches, cemetery, crematorium, and festival spaces—were included in the project. Despite repeated reminders, authorities took no action, the trust claimed. The Bombay High Court division bench (Justices Makarand Karnik and SM Modak) rejected the petition, noting the state issued the DRP notification in March 2016 and work had been underway for a long time. Rights have been granted to multiple stakeholders including housing societies on Koliwada land, many of which accepted the proposal and handed over properties. The court said interfering at such a late stage would be improper. The land has "already lost its character" due to encroachments and slum agglomeration, it held. While granting liberty to make representations on boundaries, the court said a survey would have little consequence as the March 2016 notification has attained finality.

Residents of Worli Koliwada protested after the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) issued notices to initiate termination of the developer handling major redevelopment projects on nearly six acres of prime land.

Two societies involved:

• Chaitanya Sai Janata Colony: approximately 2,054 tenements, pending for almost 30 years
• Sagar Darshan Co-op Housing Society: around 265 tenements, began a few years ago

SRA scheduled a hearing on Wednesday under section 13(2) of the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971. This provision applies when redevelopment does not progress within stipulated timelines or violates approved plans, and allows parties to present their case before a final order.

Residents claim both projects obtained all necessary approvals as of October 2024 and construction was in progress. They argue the sudden termination notice came without clear reasons and that key land ownership issues are still being heard by the Bombay High Court. They contend the developer should not be terminated while the court case is unresolved.

Residents warn that removing the developer could delay redevelopment and prolong uncertainty for thousands of families living in temporary structures, with some threatening larger agitation or political action if the notice is not withdrawn.

SRA officials state that until the court decides on land title, the SRA cannot issue further permissions for construction and issued the notice to push stalled ground-level work progressing slowly.

Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) appointed Rustomjee Group (Keystone Realtors Limited) to redevelop 25 buildings in Guru Teg Bahadur Nagar (GTB Nagar), Sion Koliwada, Mumbai.

Project details:

• Site: 11.20 acres
• Built-up space for MHADA housing stock: 25,700 sq m
• Floor Space Index (FSI): 4.5 including fungible area
• 1,200 Sindhi refugee families to receive 635 sq ft apartments
• 200 slum dwellers also to be rehabilitated
• Total 1,400 families involved

Buildings were declared unsafe by BMC in 2020 and demolished. Residents had to find alternative accommodation. Maharashtra government approved redevelopment of privately-owned land through MHADA following consistent appeals by tenant societies.

MHADA Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal handed over Letter of Intent to developer. Jaiswal described it as historic and first MHADA redevelopment project on private land executed through appointed construction agency.

Historical context: Government settled 1,200 refugee families in 25 buildings from 1957 at ₹5,380 per apartment (₹14–15 per sq ft). Current property rates in locality: ₹20,000–₹30,000 per sq ft. Refugees were from Pakistan's Sindh and Punjab provinces, allotted homes under Displaced Persons (Compensation and Rehabilitation) Act, 1954.