Govt decides to amend development rules for Dharavi facelift
Private developers to be roped in for rebuilding civic properties
By Nauzer Bharucha/TNN
Mumbai: Realising that the proposed revamp of Dharavi—Asia’s largest slum sprawl—could end up violating the development control regulations (DCR), the Maharashtra government now plans to amend the rules exlusively for this project.
Successive regimes have sought to give a facelift to the 535-acre slum ghetto, which is a hub for leather and plastic units, bakeries and jewellers. In 1985, then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had announced a Rs 100-crore grant for Mumbai, of which Rs 37 crore was used to build Dharavi’s roads, sewage and water lines. However, large-scale changes continues to elude the area.
Last Saturday, officials of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) finalised a draft DCR for Dharavi following a six-hour marathon meeting. The plan has now been sent to the government, and officials hope it will be approved in a few days. The amended DCR will apply to redevelopment of slums not less than 100 acres in size.
The Dharavi project has been touted as the world’s largest slum rehabilitation scheme. The redevelopment envisages a whopping 3.5 crore sq ft of construction—1.5 crore sq ft to rehouse the slumdwellers and 2 crore sq ft of development that the builders can sell in the open market. As many as 51,000 slums holding a population of 3 lakh people have been identified for rehabilitation.
In January, officials in charge of the project had told TOI that a global expression of interest (EOI) for the Rs 6,000-crore project would be invited by the first week of March. This has now been delayed after the project implementation authority realised there were holes which needed to be plugged so that the existing DCR was not violated in any way.
I S Chahal, officer on special duty in charge of the Dharavi redevelopment project, claimed the existence of a couple of thousand tenements and tenanted properties belonging to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in Dharavi posed the first major challenge.
According to the existing DCR, municipal or housing board properties are to be redeveloped by BMC or Mhada themselves and cannot be given to a third party for redevelopment. The Dharavi plan envisages participation of private developers with the SRA being the implementing authority.
There are more than 2,500 houses where civic employees are staying currently in Dharavi. The BMC has been insisting that if these buildings are to be demolished, it should get the same number of tenements in the new buildings to be constructed under the project.In addition, there are also more than 2,000 municipal tenanted chawls where people have been residing over six decades. There are also BMC buildings like the local ward office and fire brigade station here, which will have to be reconstructed. “We had to approach the government for clarifications how to get around this problem. Only a change in the DCR will permit us to go ahead with the project,’’ said Chahal.
It is learnt that the chief minister has agreed to allow the use of the BMC’s 12-acre sewage pumping station land in Dharavi to construct temporary transit accommodation only for Dharavi slumdwellers. Once the project is completed, the land will be handed back to the BMC.
Grey area in fine print
Tenements and tenanted properties belonging to BMC and other state agencies As per existing norms, such properties are to be redeveloped by the owner But new |plan envisages participation of private developers
Sector 1
Total no. of slum structure :
7988 nos. Total land area : 5,68,331 sq.m. Rehab area : 2,99,550 sq.m. Sale area : 3,98,402 sq.m. Total Cost of construction :
Rs 932 crores
Cost of Amenities :
Rs 174 crores
Sector 2
Total no. of slum structure :
13500 nos.
Total land area :
3,91,188 sq.m. Rehab area : 5,06,250 sq.m. Sale area : 6,73,313 sq.m. Total Cost of construction :
Rs 1410 crores
Cost of Amenities :
Rs 130 crores
Sector 3
Total no. of slum structure :
14501 nos. Total land area : 4,86,726 sq.m. Rehab area : 5,43,787 sq.m. Sale area : 7,23,237 sq.m. Total Cost of construction :
Rs 1670 crores
Cost of Amenities :
Rs 294 crores
Sector 4
Total no. of slum structure :
9,544 nos.
Total land area :
3,47,111 sq.m. Rehab area : 3,57,900 sq.m. Sale area : 4,76,007 sq.m. Total Cost of construction :
Rs 1043 crores
Cost of Amenities :
Rs 138 crores
Sector 5
Total no. of slum structure : 5286 nos. Total land area : 3,72,837 sq.m. Rehab area : 1,98,225 sq.m. Sale area : 2,63,639 sq.m. Total Cost of construction :
Rs 799 crores
Cost of Amenities :
Rs 198 crores
Past efforts
1936: Slum clearance 1976: Slum Improvement Programme 1980: Slum Upgradation Programme 1985: PM’s Grant Project 1994: People’s Participation Programme 1996: Slum Rehab Scheme
No. of slums
50,000
Population
3 lakh
No. of housing units for rehab
51,000
Commercial space for sale
2 crore
square feet Proposed development
3.5 crore
square feet Project cost
Rs 5,855 crore Duration of project 7years
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