After several unsuccessful attempts to redevelop Asia's largest slum, Dharavi, the state government has decided to float special purpose vehicle (separate company) for the redevelopment project. Minister for Housing Development, Prakash Mehta announced that decks for redevelopment for Dharavi would be cleared along with Mumbai Development Plan by March 31.
Replying to the discussion on budgetary demands in state assembly, Mehta informed that previous efforts for getting the developers for the project was twice unsuccessful. He said that while Mumbai DP would be cleared, Dharavi redevelopment plan would also be made public.
Dharavi redevelopment has been a topic of discussion since almost 20 years now. There are 55 thousand families as per government estimates, who are eligible for new houses after redevelopment. The entire redevelopment of Dharavi would be roughly more than Rs 30 thousand crore and yet despite repeated efforts by government through various schemes there were no bidders for this project.
An official informed that taking into account the complexities, an effort was made to redevelop Dharavi by dividing it into sections. Officials informed that there are slum-dwellers residing in two to three storied slums in Dharavi and some are already in possession of bigger houses than 500 sq ft. They further informed that while implementing redevelopment under SRA, residents are entitled to 350 sq ft. However, most residents were already living in an area of 500 sq ft and hence, were unhappy to shift to a house relatively smaller.
An official said that with special purpose vehicle, entire redevelopment would be planned and taken care of by the SVP. The challenge would be not confined to redevelopment but it would also be providing amenities, maintenance and rehabilitation of all the slum dwellers.
