In a bid to transform one of Asia's largest slums, billionaire Gautam Adani and his company, the Adani Group, have taken on the ambitious task of redeveloping Dharavi, a bustling hub of industry and home to approximately one million residents in Mumbai.

Dharavi, famously depicted in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire," has evolved from a swampy area with no proper road infrastructure and surrounded by garbage, into a vibrant maze of small businesses. These enterprises, including bakeries, barbers, and butchers, have become a crucial source of livelihood for many families living in the cramped buildings and narrow alleys of the 500-acre slum.

The residents of Dharavi, many of whom are migrants and artisans, fear that their livelihoods may now be at risk as the slum undergoes a drastic transformation. The process of redeveloping Dharavi has proven challenging in the past due to its sheer scale, high density, and valuable land in central Mumbai. The slum faces numerous problems, including extreme overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate access to basic amenities such as clean water and toilets.

Gautam Adani, the founder of the Adani Group and one of the richest men in Asia, envisions a new Dharavi that reflects a resurgent, self-assured, and growing India. Adani's plan aims to create a state-of-the-art city that will provide dignity, safety, and inclusiveness for the slum's residents. However, his vision has elicited mixed reactions from the community, with some hopeful for change and others skeptical after years of empty promises.

MASA, the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Private Ltd (DRPPL), stated that they are committed to fulfilling Dharavi's needs and providing residents with new homes equipped with better amenities, accessibility, and resources. In an effort to protect livelihoods and businesses, they are exploring various options, including consolidating supply chains, offering tax refunds to businesses for five years, and launching job initiatives for youth and women.

For many years, Dharavi has been a magnet for migrants and disadvantaged populations seeking opportunity in Mumbai. The slum's growth mirrored that of the city itself, attracting individuals from all over India. However, due to its informal nature, Dharavi remained undeveloped and haphazard. It was not until the 1970s that the government began implementing basic improvements, such as building roads, laying sewers and water lines, and providing access to electricity.

Despite previous failed attempts at redevelopment, Adani's company emerged victorious with a bid of 50 billion rupees ($612 million) to redevelop Dharavi. The project is expected to take seven years to complete and is part of the Adani Group's portfolio of mega-projects, which already include electricity supply in Mumbai.

While Adani promises to rehabilitate and resettle around one million people, skeptics among Dharavi's residents remain unconvinced. They have voiced concerns about the lack of progress in previous redevelopment plans and fear that their homes and businesses may be imperiled.

As the project moves forward, the fate of Dharavi hangs in the balance. The transformation of this massive slum into a world-class city holds the potential to uplift the lives of its residents, but it also poses challenges in terms of displacements, higher costs of living, and ensuring sustainable livelihoods.