SRA scheme holds the key to solving Mumbai’s housing woes

India’s financial and entertainment capital, Mumbai, appears wealthy as the highest revenue contributor to the central exchequer.

But its underbelly, the 7-million plus strong slum population spread across the metropolis, sends out different signals to the world and its own citizens.

This aspirational, sea-locked city is completely land-starved to be able to create more realty stock in multiple categories. It does not need a rocket scientist to know that the way forward is the redevelopment of the city.  

And slum redevelopment or rehabilitation will play the most critical role in the bigger game plan under the state government’s slum rehabilitation policy governed by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA).

The rehabilitation process of 7-million plus slum dwellers, out of the 22-million-odd population, can give back this great city what it wants and deserves. 

Beginning with the erosion of slum tag signaling a social transformation, the success of SRA will also pave the way to better infrastructure, more housing stock in multiple categories, restoration of reserved spaces for all citizens, a major image boost on the global investment map and most importantly, a more habitable city for our future generations.

The policy, apart from uplifting the deplorable living conditions of almost half the city’s population, is also the key to reshaping Mumbai’s skyline and infrastructure. As the past and current track record proves, all slum redevelopment work undertaken thus far, has boosted the city’s main infrastructure and brought a high percentage of citizens into the government’s tax bracket. 

Most major infrastructural work carried out over the last decade had faced the challenge of slum corridors such as Eastern Freeway, Metro & Monorail, SCLR, JVLR, restoration of reserved gardens and complete transformation of certain micro markets.

Currently, a section of the developers’ community is implementing the scheme on a professional scale. For them, the learning process has been critical. The SRA and private developers are working towards achieving qualitative and conflict-free implementation. 

Since the scheme was promulgated in the mid-1990s, about 8 lakh residents have been rehabilitated.  This is, however, just the tip of the iceberg. The inhumane living conditions of the remaining nearly 75 lakh urban citizens must be addressed compassionately and speedily.  

The SRA scheme holds the key to solving Mumbai’s housing imbroglio. We will witness vertical growth, but we need to ensure that the city does not get vertical slums. 

This means stringent quality control and changing the mindset of slum residents. They need to be guided and empowered to make the right decisions and successfully embrace the new social hierarchy and fabric. 

While the SRA scheme, with its share of problems, managed only a baby step to begin with, the pace of its growth is encouraging now. 

While it’s difficult to put a figure on the growth quotient, considering the maturity quotient of various stakeholders, it is safe to expect a spurt in implementation figures, subject to state support.  

To rehabilitate the challenged population, the city needs close to about 15 lakh houses, out of which approximately 1.6 lakh plus houses have been delivered.

The gap is large and so is the scope to fill in this gap. In order to accelerate implementation, the state should look at creating entry guidelines, which would eliminate “traders” and developers, who lack a healthy track record. 

Performing developers should not have any issues in attracting funding and contributing to the overall growth of the city with this business getting more and more transparent and less murky.

We are due for tremendous development and there is a great opportunity to rewrite the script of the city’s skyline. Of course, this needs the joint contribution and willingness of the state, private developers, slum residents and progressive citizen groups.

Being at the forefront of carrying out such a challenging task, I only feel that SRA, if implemented in its true spirit, can turn a “slum-free Mumbai” dream into a reality for every Mumbaikar and role model for other Indian and global cities.    

Author is co-founder and MD, Omkar Realtors and Developers Pvt Ltd