Dharavi Redevelopment Building To Be Ready Early Next Year
With elections coming up in 2014, MHADA is planning to complete the sole building in the first phase of the Dharavi redevelopment plan by April 2014. MHADA is the special planning authority dedicated for sector 5 of Dharavi. Sector 5 stretches over 65 hectares out of which, 24 hectares (2,40,000 sq.mt) is developable. The date of completion of this building is however contingent to the housing body receiving height clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The Dharavi revamp project began almost a decade ago, but was facing problems such as eligibility criteria of the tenants and protests. The project has been moving at a slow pace since then.
The Dharavi redevelopment plan
The Dharavi slum is spread over 240-hectare in Central Mumbai and is one of Asia’s largest slums. Its neighbouring localities include Bandra, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Sion and Mahim, which are prime real estate locations.
The housing board had started the construction of this building while the development plan was yet to be finalized. The goal was to get the work started so as to instill confidence in people. The building is intended to accommodate 358 eligible slum dwellers. Once the tenants are moved to this building, the shanties will be razed and the next building will be constructed.
Sector 5 will have a total of 9,600 tenements. The present building is a 18-floor C-shaped building. It will have 21 units on each floor connected by a corridor.
The progress
BG Shirke Construction Technology Pvt Ltd was chosen to construct this building and work orders were given in 2012. However, the construction began only this year due to political protests. The building is complete till the 9th floor. The building has till now received a clearance for 13 floors. The structural work till the 13th floor is complete. The flats have been constructed using relatively modern specifications.
Redevelopment a huge ticket
Owing to the slum’s proximity to prime suburbs, various railway stations, arterial roads and Western Expressway, the redevelopment project will be a big ticket for a developer. It also releases a huge floor-plate after redeveloping the slum which will make it more lucrative.
