Supreme Court Refuses To Halt Dharavi Redevelopment Project By Adani Group

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stop the ongoing Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) in Mumbai. The court rejected UAE-based Seclink Technologies Corporation’s plea for a status quo order.

It upheld the Bombay High Court’s December 2024 ruling, which favored the Adani Group.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar stated that the High Court’s decision was ‘justified’. The bench noted that the railway line’s inclusion in the project strengthened the case for redevelopment.

Seclink Challenges Maharashtra Government’s Decision

Seclink Technologies had won the original tender in 2019 with a ₹7,200-crore bid. The Maharashtra government later canceled this tender and issued a fresh one in 2022. Adani Properties won the new contract with a ₹5,069-crore bid.

Seclink challenged the cancellation, claiming unfair treatment. During the hearing, the company proposed increasing its bid by 20%. The Supreme Court asked Seclink to submit an affidavit on its revised offer and scheduled the next hearing for May 25.

Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Adani, informed the court that the company had already invested heavily in equipment and resources. The court ordered Adani to maintain an escrow account for all project-related payments.

The Maharashtra government defended its decision to issue a new tender. Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni explained that the new contract included 45 acres of railway land for slum rehabilitation. The earlier bid did not account for this addition. The state government believed a fresh tender was necessary to reflect these changes.

Dharavi Redevelopment: A Major Urban Transformation

Dharavi spans 2.8 sq km near Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex. It is one of the world’s largest slums. The redevelopment project aims to replace slums with modern housing, infrastructure, and commercial spaces.

The project holds immense significance for Mumbai’s urban development. With the Supreme Court’s refusal to halt construction, the Adani-led initiative will continue. The case’s final verdict, expected in May, will determine whether Seclink can challenge the project’s allocation.

For now, the Dharavi redevelopment moves ahead, reshaping the city’s future.

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