“The transparency and speed with which projects are cleared in Dubai is unmatchable. The rules are clearly defined and there’s no influence required to get them cleared,” said Korgaonkar.
Hotels, villas, beach resorts and airline operation centres. Leading architect Ashok Korgaonkar has no time to breathe. Busy with mega projects in the desert island of Dubai, the man who left Mumbai 23 years ago, is back to attend the golden jubilee functions of his alma mater — Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture.
With Dubai showcasing the highest development activity across the world and attracting several Indian developers, Mumbai-born Korgaonkar has a major stake — 70-storey twin towers offering 1,000 rooms and 300 service apartments at Marina, a recently completed 6,000 villa project and soon coming up state-of-the-art Operations Centre for Emirates Airlines, to name a few.
But, the man had to give up his dream — a residential project in the city — due to red tape and bureaucracy six months ago.
“The transparency and speed with which projects are cleared in Dubai is unmatchable. The rules are clearly defined and there’s no influence required to get them cleared,” said Korgaonkar.
The architect said sustainable, planned development based on solid infrastructure plans could make Mumbai a hub for global business. “Look, even a big property developer of Dubai like EMAAR has preferred Hyderabad to Mumbai. The state government must instill confidence, reduce bureaucracy and partner in development,” he said.
Korgaonkar said going vertical was the only option for Mumbai if the city wanted wider roads and open spaces. “I cannot believe why we have not developed our waterfront, when cities like Dubai have used the creek for night cruises,” he said.
The architect also has a bitter experience while buying a house in the city. After buying a flat, he found that the same flat had been sold to two others.
As he gears up to build a mini airport centre for the Emirates in-flight staff at Dubai airport, the first of its kind in the world, Speaking about the deluge, Korgaonkar said, “I was in Mumbai during the floods and for the first time I realised that Mithi was a river and not a nullah. It’s sad that slum demolitions are politicised.”
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