Hasten Dharavi Redevelopment Project: Prithviraj Chavan tells authorities

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan has asked the authorities to expedite the much delayed Dharavi Redevelopment Project, Sector 5. The CM, who is also the minister for housing, chaired a meeting of all senior officials and asked that the DC (development control) rules and the notification be expedited so that work on the project can commence.

Officials, who attended the meeting, said they expect the mega project to kick off soon. The Dharavi Redevelopment Project is expected to alter Asia's largest slum zone, and create a huge amount of realty that can be sold as commercial and residential properties. Mhada (Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority) will undertake the redevelopment project.

A senior official said the project is important because it will be the first major redevelopment project and will set the benchmark for all the other projects in Mumbai. It will help the government learn aspects that need reconsideration.  There are over 70,000 slums in Dharavi, with about 11,000 in Sector 5. However, Raju Korde, of the Dharavi Bachao Andolan Samiti, said he had his doubts that work on Sector 5 could take off as the area is regulated by the CRZ (coastal regulation zone). 

Meanwhile, the chief minister also expressed his concern about the presence of an estimated 22,000 slums on the slopes of the various hills that dot Mumbai.