Architect appointed for Dharavi redevelopment

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) has appointed PK Das as the architect for its ambitious redevelopment plan for Dharavi.

The project will be carried out in 13 phases and Mhada will submit its detailed report over the land use plan within the next two months to state government.

“We hope the state authority endorses our efforts as earlier, the plans were always changed at the last minute. It some kind of flip flop, but we are sure the state will approve the plan and ensure its implementation this time,” senior government officials said.
Of Dharavi’s 62 hectare stretch, 23 hectares will be developed and Das will be paid Rs1.40 lakh per month. Some 330 apartments will be constructed in the first phase of the project.
According to a Mhada official, if a current occupant has a house with an area of 300 sq ft, he will be given an eqaul area after redevelopment. Occupants will get an 300 sq ft redevelped for free, but will have to pay Mhada for any additional area.

Also, this redevelopment scheme will give Dharavi residents a maximum area of 750 sq ft, even if they currently  possess 1000 sq ft.

 Das said that the scope of work includes studying how the place can be redeveloped and  amenities like water, sewerage, roads and schools.

“We have started the redevelopment work. It is expected to finish within two months,” Das said, adding that they are not preparing an architectural plan or design any sort.

The Dharavi project failed to take off the last eight years since it was first proposed. The state government tried to issue tenders for it several times but that never crossed the bidding process.

Local politicians say the government should not delay the plan any further now.
“If the government fails to execute the plan this time, then people will no longer believe in them. It will badly affect us during the general elections in 2014,” a senior congress leader said.