I accept our cities have poor infrastructure. India's public infrastructure in general is poor because of popular politics and corruption.
However, Indians in general are not as poor as you can see in the numbers be it GDP, budgets, consumption.
We cannot just dismantle those slums. Our politicians play politics for their votes.
"The latest urban redevelopment plan proposed for the Dharavi area is managed by American-trained architect Mukesh Mehta[10] The plan involves the construction of 2,800,000 square metres (30,000,000 sq ft) of housing, schools, parks and roads to serve the 57,000 families residing in the area, along with 3,700,000 square metres (40,000,000 sq ft) of residential and commercial space for sale.[17] There is still a significant local opposition to the plans, largely because existing residents still feel 33 square metres (350 sq ft) of revised permanent alternate accommodation per tenant is not adequate each. Furthermore, only those families who lived in the area before 2000 are slated for resettlement. Concerns have also been raised by residents who fear that some of their small businesses in the "informal" sector may not be relocated under the redevelopment plan. Due to this opposition, a trust has been proposed called the Dharavi Community Land Trust that will be made up of community members, landowners and neighborhood associations."
In China this consultation does not happen. Its just the political system that is the enabler for such slums.
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To make the redevelopment more economically viable, the state government's plan is involving transforming the region into a hub for commercial and business activity. Dharavi is close to the Bandra Kurla Complex, which is India's richest business district and one of the richest in Asia."
It is infact a tribute to India that such slums are still allowed to be in such a central location. Spending some $4 billion in prime real estate is not a big deal. Its just people there are opposed to it and politicians wants their votes. And we got damn NGO's spreading misinformation. Had it been China they would have no say in the matter.
West criticizes us for not rehabilitating slums yet when we try the western NGO's will collude with locals to stop such developments.
Also these 57000 families residing their generate a $1 billion in revenues every year. They are not as poor as you think. I hate to say this, we all just look poor, more than we are.
"Dharavi has an active informal economy in which numerous household enterprises employ many of the slum residents[5]—leather, textiles and pottery products are among the goods made inside Dharavi. The total annual turnover has been estimated at over US$1 billion.[6]"