Mumbai: Dharavi now has a digital twin. The densely populated slum is set to transform over the next decade, making way for multi-storey buildings, luxury towers, and corporate offices. The digital twin will preserve the existing township's data for future reference.
An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "The digital twin is an exact replica of present-day Dharavi. Except for a few areas, all of Dharavi has been extensively mapped. It resembles a hologram that, when opened, reveals every detail of the structure and its residents."
Adani Realty Group, the lead developer for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), has employed technology to capture and maintain records for each household. A spokesperson for Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt Ltd (NMDPL), the special-purpose vehicle executing the DRP, clarified that the digital mapping is not merely an archival record but is used to establish residents' claims to free or rental housing by capturing documents, including litigation details.
The digital twin is currently utilized by DRP/SRA to verify documents before issuing the final annexure 2 list, which finalizes slum dwellers' eligibility. Initially, drones surveyed the entire 621 acres, identifying 1.25 lakh units. This was followed by a ground survey using LiDAR technology, capturing lane details such as structure counts, floors, and commercial or residential usage. On average, each lane contains 150 huts.
A digital map of Dharavi was then created, incorporating a 3D model of every tenement along with details like size, ownership, and resident-provided documents. All data has been integrated into an app. An official explained, "Dharavi is divided into five sectors, with railway land at Matunga designated as sector 6, adjoining sectors 1 and 5. Each unit has a unique identity number. During the door-to-door survey, surveyors used the app on a tablet to enter resident details and documentary evidence for each unit."
Surveyors have collected hard copies of documents, archived with data archival company Iron Mountain Co Ltd in Nalasopara. The survey of 95,000 units is complete both physically and digitally, with documents verified for 85,000 units. Areas such as Kumbharwada, Shankar Kawade Chawl, Gopal Vilas Palwadi, NDG Compounds, Lahuji Bhimji Chawl, and Nawab Nagar are still pending survey completion.
