Centre to develop Asia's largest slum Dharavi after failing to get private developers?

Central Government's National Building Construction Company (NBCC), wants to redevelop Dharavi. Last week, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that the state government will initiate the redevelopment of Asia's largest slum after failing to get private developers.

Now the Centre's NBCC has jumped in and Devendra Fadanvis confirmed to DNA that the proposal is being actively considered.

Dharavi Redevelopment gained prominence last week when the CM brought it up in his public outreach program, 'Mi Mukhyamantri Boltoy'. "Immediately after coming to power, we floated a global tender but in spite of doing it thrice, developers haven't come forward," he had said. "It appears that developers see more difficulty than profit in this project hence we have decided to form a policy to redevelop Dharavi. The project will be done under the state's SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) and on the lines of BDD Chawl.

"There, instead of developers, we roped in MHADA. The initial investment will be raised by the government."

When asked whether NBCC had shown any interest in the project, Fadnavis replied, "Under active consideration."

Like MHADA's role in BDD chawl redevelopment, NBCC's role in Dharavi could be that of a contractor where it will construct homes for slum dwellers as well as create housing to be sold in market. However, nothing has been made official yet.

According to the NBCC website, it will be redeveloping properties for the government. They will also provide houses at reasonable rates. When contacted, the NBCC office in Delhi didn't respond.

Dharavi is divided into five sectors of which sector V is being redeveloped by MHADA and the government had floated tenders for the remaining four sectors.