Protesters carried flags and banners with slogans such as “Remove Adani Save Dharavi” from the slum to Adani’s premises in the central business district of India’s financial capital.

“We are not against development, but the way the Dharavi redevelopment is planned it will only benefit Adani and not the slum residents,” Baburao Mane, leader of Save Dharavi Committee (Dharavi Bachao Andolan), said.

The protest comes amid growing political opposition to the state government – ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and allies – for giving undue favours to Adani firms in allotting and executing the slum overhaul contract.

A rival bidder – a Dubai-based consortium – has mounted a legal challenge alleging the Maharashtra government improperly cancelled an original 2018 tender for the slum redevelopment and favoured Adani in giving the new contract.

Adani and the state government have denied any wrongdoing and say contracts have been awarded as per laws and policies.

Protesters have demanded that both eligible and non-eligible residents of the slum be housed inside the redeveloped area and be given bigger homes of 500 square feet, instead of the promised 300-350 sq ft. Some protesters also want the government to take over the slum overhaul instead of private developers like Adani.

The Maharashtra state government in July approved Adani Group’s bid to overhaul Dharavi, which is known for producing leather goods, following years of failed attempts.

The slum, about three-quarters the size of New York’s Central Park, featured in Danny Boyle’s Oscar-winning 2008 movie “Slumdog Millionaire”, and has open sewers and shared toilets. It is located close to Mumbai’s international airport and high-rise office blocks housing foreign companies – making a stark contrast to India’s development boom.

Here is a timeline of Dharavi’s development and previous failed efforts to remake the 594-acre (240-hectare) slum.

1800s: Dharavi’s growth coincides with migration into Bombay, now known as Mumbai. Potters, leather tanners, artisans and embroidery workers started trade and business in the region by the late 1800s. Slum dwellers squatted on these lands and built huts in a haphazard manner, authorities say.

1971-76: The state government of Maharashtra passes a law to improve living conditions of the Mumbai slum, providing residents with taps, toilets and electrical connections.

2004-05: Maharashtra approves redevelopment of Dharavi and appoints Slum Rehabilitation Authority to plan the project.

2007-08: Survey by the Maharashtra Social Housing and Action League, a non-government organization, shows around 47,000 legal residents and 13,000 commercial structures in Dharavi. But the figure excludes many more occupying upper floors, and the informal population continues to grow in subsequent years.

Until 2016: The state government attempts to attract developers to overhaul Dharavi but fails to garner interest.

2018: Maharashtra issues a tender for redevelopment of Dharavi over seven years via a 20% government, 80% privately held arrangement. Dubai’s SecLink consortium and India’s Adani Group are among the bidders.

2019: SecLink’s bid of $871 million is the highest; Adani comes second with a $548 million bid.

2020: Maharashtra government cancels the 2018 tender, saying its acquisition of certain land for the project altered costs after the bidding process ended, and necessitated restarting the process.

2020: SecLink sues Maharashtra government in the High Court of Bombay, accusing it of incorrectly cancelling the tender. The state denies wrongdoing.

2022: Maharashtra issues a new tender with modified terms. Adani Group bids $614 million, India’s DLF (DLF.NS) is among other bidders. SecLink doesn’t bid.

2023: State government awards the Dharavi project to Adani Group. SecLink adds Adani Group to its lawsuit against the state government. Adani and the state government contest allegations of wrongdoing in court filings.