In a key procedural development for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, the special purpose vehicle (SPV) led by the Maharashtra government and the Adani Group has filed a Terms of Reference (ToR) application with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) for the Aksa-Malvani land parcel.

Though physical possession of the land—allocated via a gazetted notification on October 11, 2024—is still pending, the filing pertains to the 140-acre plot designated to house ineligible slum dwellers from Dharavi. The ToR filing marks the first formal step in the process of obtaining environmental clearance, which experts estimate could take six to seven months.

The document defines the scope of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including details on built-up areas, building configurations, parking, and green zones. It does not confer final land-use permissions but triggers scrutiny by multiple regulatory agencies including Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ), Civil Aviation, and the State Environment Department. 

Of the 541.2 acres earmarked for the project, 63.51 acres have already been transferred for rehabilitation. Similar ToR filings are expected soon for other land parcels within a 30-km radius of Dharavi.