Mumbai radio makes history with first multi-station Dharavi simulcast

MUMBAI: Mumbai’s radio dial did something it had never done before. It spoke in one voice. In a rare show of unity in a fiercely competitive industry, five of the city’s biggest FM stations came together for a first-ever multi-station simulcast to spotlight the human-centric transformation of Dharavi. Titled Radio Community Ek Saath, the two-hour broadcast was spearheaded by the Adani Group and aired simultaneously across Radio Mirchi, Big FM, Red FM, Radio Nasha and Radio City.

On December 24, from 8.30 am to 10.30 am, listeners hopping across frequencies heard the same message, the same stories and the same call to action. Even more unusually, Mumbai’s most recognisable radio voices shared one studio. RJ Jeeturaaj, RJ Vrajesh Hirjee, RJ Malishka, RJ Rohini and RJ Salil set aside brand loyalties to co-host a single, unified show built around the theme, Meri Dharavi Badlegi, Hamari Mumbai Badhegi.

What began as a set of conversations soon turned into a city-wide movement. The momentum was sparked by a series of emotionally driven films released by Adani, which focused on everyday life in Dharavi, from sanitation and healthcare to education and aspiration. Touched by the stories, radio jockeys across stations stepped out of their booths and into Dharavi’s lanes.

Over four weeks, more than 25 RJs met residents, recorded their experiences and carried those voices back to the airwaves. The storytelling spilled beyond radio, travelling through FCT ads, original anthems, Instagram posts, YouTube videos and on-air discussions, creating an impact that cut across platforms.

One of the most striking gestures was also the simplest. Participating stations ran time checks at the 17th minute of every hour, paired with the line, Dharavi Ek Saath 400017 Ke Liye, Mumbai Ek Saath. Dharavi’s pin code became a recurring reminder, turning a number into a symbol of attention and collective intent.

The simulcast has since been released on YouTube, extending its life beyond live radio and inviting a wider digital audience into the conversation.

Adani Group head of corporate branding Ajay Kakar said, the collaboration went far beyond a media innovation. “The redevelopment of Dharavi is fundamentally about people. When rival radio stations choose purpose over competition, they do more than support a campaign. They help build a movement. Together, we can show that when Dharavi grows, Mumbai grows with it.”

As part of the broader initiative, Adani also unveiled three human-centric campaign films that foreground the lived realities and future promise of Asia’s largest urban regeneration project, one designed to bring dignity, safety and inclusiveness to nearly a million lives.

For a city used to switching stations, this was one moment when staying tuned anywhere led to the same powerful story.