Nothing can perhaps be a better yardstick for measuring
Mumbais diversity and disparity than the fact that the city is home to both
Dharavi and Antilia - the former one of the largest slum settlements in the world, and the latter the most expensive residential property of the multi-billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani. Dharavi Once a mangrove swamp and a sparsely populated island, Dharavi in Mumbai is now the second-largest slum in Asia and the third-largest world in the world. Founded in 1883 during the British rule, Dharavi expanded rapidly due to rural migration and an explosion of factories in Bombay. According to suggested estimates, the population of Dharavi is said to be between 300,000 to 1 million. The citizens are multi-religious and multi-ethnic, who are engaged in various activities ranging from leather, textiles, pottery and even a growing recycling industry. The informal economy of Dharavi is thriving and goods from Dharavi are exported to many parts of the world, and the total annual turnover from the economy is around USD 1 billion. Despite many plans to resettle the population and develop the place, Dharavi still continues to be plagued by low sanitation and hygiene standards. Antilia The extravagantly expensive home of Mukesh Ambani, one of the world’s richest businessmen, is located in South Mumbai. Named Antilia, after the mythical islands of the same name, it is estimated to have a net worth of over USD 1 billion and is second only to the
Buckingham Palace as the world’s most expensive residential property. A daily staff of around 600 are reported to maintain the private residence for the Ambani family. Embroiled in controversies over the legality of the land purchase since its inception, its tall architectural design was envisioned by the Chicago-based Perkins and Will, and it continues to attract both dubious criticism and envious wonder by the world