Decks cleared for Mumbai's 2nd largest slum redevelopment project

After giving a green signal for the 200-acre Dharavi redevelopment project, the state government on Wednesday also cleared the deck for Mumbai's second largest slum redevelopment project at Ramabai Nagar. Ramabai Nagar is spread over 151 acre of prime land in Ghatkopar (east).

"Ramabai Nagar redevelopment was proposed in 2005, when Congress' Vilasrao Deshmukh was the chief minister. Nothing much happened therafter. Now again on Wednesday, a meeting was held with the housing secretary and slum redevelopment authority (SRA) CEO. We asked them to submit the feasibility report within a month. Once we get the report, this will be termed a special project," said Prakash Mehta, Housing Minister.

Mehta said they will undertake this project under the cluster redevelopment scheme, whereby the developer will get a floor space index (FSI) of 4.

"We can also take up this project as a joint venture, where, if required, the government can also invest. We will redevelop the entire area on the lines of the Dharavi redevelopment project. There are a total of 27,000 slums in Ramabai Nagar. Out of these, 12 slum clusters consisting of 3,000 slums dwellers, were up for redevelopment earlier. Only four slum clusters have so far been developed and they have been accommodated in one building. We will ask them if they want to be a part of the mega redevelopment project. A majority of these slums are owned by the state government."

He said some parts of Ramabai Nagar were developed under the SRA scheme; those and the private areas will be excluded from the feasibility plan. "The SRA has to submit a plan on how and where the existing, eligible slums dwellers will be rehabilitated. Bids for the project will be invited soon. This will be a dream project for me, as the area comes under my constituency. I will be happy to see them in bigger, pucca (brick and mortar) houses," Mehta added.