This is what the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is likely to formally announce in the coming weeks as the consultant appointed (in July 2015) in its draft report has recommended the possibility of such an arrangement.
As many as 737 families from Girgaum and Kalbadevi, who are getting affected due to the underground Colaba-Bandra-Seepz Metro rail, will be rehabilitated at the very same locations they are currently residing in and that too in homes double the size of their existing ones.
Besides these residents of the 26 Girgaum-Kalbadevi buildings in question, families residing in some of the surrounding buildings too will be rehabilitated into bigger homes as their structures also need to be broken down to make room for Metro station facilities — entry/exit points, ventilation shafts, auxiliary sub-station, etc.
This is what the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is likely to formally announce in the coming weeks as the consultant appointed (in July 2015) in its draft report has recommended the possibility of such an arrangement.
As per the plans, those having 300 sqft homes will get 600 sqft, those with 250 sqft too will get double the size, whereas, families residing in 100-150 sqft tenements will get apartments of around 400 sqft.
Those wanting more than the eligible area will have to shell out money as per the rates that will be decided at a later date.
"Even some buildings around these affected 26 structures are old, and sooner or later, they will need to undergo redevelopment. The building owners and tenants too do not resist the move, if MMRC undertakes rehabilitation work," said an official.
But it is yet to be finalised how to go about with redevelopment of these buildings, if a private developer should be roped in by allowing saleable component so that the government agency does not incur rehabilitation cost, or only those affected should be provided with bigger homes at government's expense.
The possibility of opting for redevelopment under the 'Cluster Redevelopment Policy' too exists. As per this, redevelopment is allowed for buildings on an area of at least 4,000 sqm. Moreover, the structures should be minimum three decades old.
Last year, the project-affected families at Girgaum and Kalbadevi had held a series of protests, demanding that they be given homes in-situ. This has now been found feasible by the MMRC. Out of the total 27 Metro stations (including Aarey) on the 33.5km-long route, Girgaum and Kalbadevi are two of the stations.
As per the timeline for the underground Metro line, by April 2020, the entire route of 33.5km will be ready for the public. However, the first phase will be ready much earlier, around December 2018, which will be between Kanjurmarg and Seepz.
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