Will Dharavi redevelopment take off this time around?
Real Estate

Will Dharavi redevelopment take off this time around?

In a city like Mumbai that teems with high-rises, Dharavi is an exception. Ahorizontal sprawl spread across 300 hectare, it’s a case study on survival driven by free enterprise, with residents engaged in manufacturing leather goods, pottery, clothes and even medicines. Needless to say, much of this is legally illegitimate! Back in the 1980s when socialist fervour in India was at a high, Dharaviserved as a valiant example of how poor migrants akin to ‘mortals of a lesser god’ had battled all the oddsto stay afloat. In contemporary times, many want to redraft the narrative as celebrating poverty is no longer in vogue.

For a long time, many NGOs, urban plannersand policymakers have come together to highlight the problems in Dharavi. Globally, too, philanthropists have been pouring in money to usher in a change. But still there have been deadlocks to overcome. Experts believe much of it also has to do with the mindset of the tenants. “In any SRA [Slum Rehabilitation Authority] project involving relocation and rehabilitation, there are a number of unseen challenges,” says Gulam Zia, Executive Director, Knight Frank. “In a rehabilitation project undertaken by Tata Housing in Latur, the tenants were reluctant to move into homes made for them. The homes were fully constructed and one could just walk in. Still, people whose homes were destroyed by a massive earthquake were reluctant to occupy the ready-to-move-in homes.”

Though this may seem bizarre, there is a similar example in the city of Mumbai itself. As part of the Mumbai Airport Slum Rehabilitation Project, 17,000 houses were constructed by private developer HDIL in exchange for transfer of development rights (TDR) to accommodate the eligible project-affected of the 85,000 families settled on 276 acre of the Mumbai airport. People did not move in and now talks are on to utilise a few of these to accommodate slum dwellers impacted by the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro.

Apart from tenants unwilling to occupy rehabilitated homes, a number ofbuilders found themselves in an economically non-viable mode after the SRA projects they were involved in did not take off as envisaged, leading to their decline. Hence, even though this time around a reputed builder like Adani Developers has bagged the project, cynicism refuses to die down. Further, the scale of the project itself is a challenge. Getting consensus for the rehabilitated project from different tenants and individuals involved in diverse businesses is another challenge.

To read the full report, CLICK HERE.

In a city like Mumbai that teems with high-rises, Dharavi is an exception. Ahorizontal sprawl spread across 300 hectare, it’s a case study on survival driven by free enterprise, with residents engaged in manufacturing leather goods, pottery, clothes and even medicines. Needless to say, much of this is legally illegitimate! Back in the 1980s when socialist fervour in India was at a high, Dharaviserved as a valiant example of how poor migrants akin to ‘mortals of a lesser god’ had battled all the oddsto stay afloat. In contemporary times, many want to redraft the narrative as celebrating poverty is no longer in vogue. For a long time, many NGOs, urban plannersand policymakers have come together to highlight the problems in Dharavi. Globally, too, philanthropists have been pouring in money to usher in a change. But still there have been deadlocks to overcome. Experts believe much of it also has to do with the mindset of the tenants. “In any SRA [Slum Rehabilitation Authority] project involving relocation and rehabilitation, there are a number of unseen challenges,” says Gulam Zia, Executive Director, Knight Frank. “In a rehabilitation project undertaken by Tata Housing in Latur, the tenants were reluctant to move into homes made for them. The homes were fully constructed and one could just walk in. Still, people whose homes were destroyed by a massive earthquake were reluctant to occupy the ready-to-move-in homes.” Though this may seem bizarre, there is a similar example in the city of Mumbai itself. As part of the Mumbai Airport Slum Rehabilitation Project, 17,000 houses were constructed by private developer HDIL in exchange for transfer of development rights (TDR) to accommodate the eligible project-affected of the 85,000 families settled on 276 acre of the Mumbai airport. People did not move in and now talks are on to utilise a few of these to accommodate slum dwellers impacted by the 33.5-km Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ Metro. Apart from tenants unwilling to occupy rehabilitated homes, a number ofbuilders found themselves in an economically non-viable mode after the SRA projects they were involved in did not take off as envisaged, leading to their decline. Hence, even though this time around a reputed builder like Adani Developers has bagged the project, cynicism refuses to die down. Further, the scale of the project itself is a challenge. Getting consensus for the rehabilitated project from different tenants and individuals involved in diverse businesses is another challenge. To read the full report, CLICK HERE.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Railways approves major upgrade for Telangana traction lines

The Ministry of Railways has approved the upgradation of the electric traction system in two crucial railway sections — Medchal–Mudkhed (225 km) and Mahbubnagar–Dhone (184 km). The projects, costing Rs 1.93 billion and Rs 1.23 billion respectively, will enhance the electric traction capacity from 1X25 KV to 2X25 KV. The work includes modifications to circuit breakers and switching stations, along with the installation of additional conductors. These routes serve as vital links between Northern and Southern India via Hyderabad. Once completed, the upgraded system will reduce voltage dro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Adani to invest Rs 425 billion more in Maharashtra’s Dighi Port

The Adani Group has committed to invest an additional Rs 425 billion in the Dighi Port project, located along Maharashtra’s coastal Konkan belt, government officials announced on Monday. Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ)-run Dighi Ports signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maharashtra government to undertake the expansion of the port and related infrastructure. This new commitment comes as part of a broader investment initiative by the state. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the agreement is among 15 MoUs worth over Rs 560 billion signed during the opening d..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

HUDCO, JNPA sign Rs 50 billion deal for port development

In a strategic move, the Housing and Urban Development Corporation Ltd (HUDCO) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) for an investment of Rs 50 billion to revamp and develop port infrastructure. The non-binding agreement is intended to strengthen cooperation on both existing and upcoming infrastructure projects, with a focus on development, financing, and refinancing of port facilities at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port. The MoU was formalised with the signatures of Sanjay Kulshrestha, Chairman and Managing Director of HUDCO, and Unmesh Shar..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?