Will Asia´s largest slum be redeveloped?

The fourth attempt to attract bidders for the Dharavi redevelopment plan is scheduled in the next three to four months, CW reports. Asia´s biggest slum - spread across 239 hectare and housing almost 1 million people on just one square mile - has been waiting for its revamp - for ages, literally. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project has remained a pipe dream for the past 20 years with the bidding process postponed time and again. Indeed, records clearly state that finding a bidder for the redevelopment project, which is worth more than Rs 20,000 crore, has been a herculean task for the government. The big names that were to bid for the Dharavi plot of 525 acre have backed out now. Government meetings with top developers have also not yielded positive results. Initially, the Maharashtra Government had decided to divide Asia´s largest slum into 12 parts and redevelop them under the slum rehabilitation scheme (SRA) as there were no bidders. There have been more than four attempts since 2004, which also included allowing an FSI of 4 for the slum rehabilitation scheme. Yet, no headway has been made. This begs the question: Why?spread across 239 hectare and housing almost 1 When CW connected with some of the leading developers in Mumbai, they refrained from sharing any comments. ´I don´t understand the real reason for bidders not coming forward,´ says SS Bhise, Secretary, Dharavi Redevelopment Authority (DRA). ´We are now rethinking the entire project. We have incorporated some new changes and are hoping for developers to bid in the next round.´ Commenting on the changes made, a BMC official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says, ´The project will also create 40,000-50,000 flats as a free-sale component.´ DRA is expected to call for bids once again in the next three to four months. To this, Felex Thomas, Head Administrator and HR, Slum Rehabilitation Society (SRS), adds, ´Several surveys have been done, but none have worked to the benefit of Dharavi. The plan should offer a good opportunity to both the commercial and residential sectors to grow.´ According to data from the state housing department, nearly 55,000 families from Dharavi are eligible for rehabilitation under the revamp plan; about 7,000 live in chawls and buildings. Although it is potentially valuable real estate, centrally located and close to the prime Bandra-Kurla Complex area in Mumbai, the project has had several false starts owing to political opposition, frequent policy changes, and design alterations. Once execution eventually begins, the redevelopment is expected to take about seven years to complete and will bring in another 2.5 lakh people through the affordable, free-sale component. Time will tell whether the project will lead to a happy ending û for now, the imperative is to lay the foundation. To share your views on this report, write in at feedback@ConstructionWorld.in