Rs 9,200-cr Dharavi project put on hold

The worst hit plan due to the sudden announcement of the civic polls in Mumbai and the subsequent code of conduct by the State Election Commission is the Rs9,200 crore five sector Dharavi Redevelopment Project. Now, the biggest urban renewal initiative, which was waiting for the green signal for over a decade, lies in cold storage till February 2, when the results of the civic polls will be declared.

Even as the news of the Expression of Interest (EoI), likely to be announced on December 15, had filled real estate circles with excitement for two days, the code of conduct proved a dampener. “Guess, we will have to wait for a few more days,” said architect Mukesh Mehta. Many state officials voiced their displeasure over the delay in announcing the crucial EoI, even though the new development control rules for Dharavi were cleared a month ago. Thanks to inflation and delay since 2002, when the project was actively taken up, the cost has jumped from the earlier Rs5,600 crore to Rs9,200 crore in four years and further delay is already proving costly.

With its long-standing impact on the future slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai, kickstarting the Dharavi plan was also critical at a time when all Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects are under scanner. “This is the first time public bidding will be held for an SRA project. The government earns premium, unlike the developers who have been making hay for a while,” Mehta said. Reports are that the state would bring in stringent criteria on the developers for eligibility, but IS Chahal, officer on special duty on Dharavi, told DNA that there were at least 12 Indian developers who would fulfil the rules. He also brushed aside allegations that the residents of Dharavi had not been taken into confidence. “For the past 19 months, we have been in talks with the industrial union of Dharavi and the sectoral development has been planned taking into account their views. We have already prepared the list of eligible people for rehabilitation in one sector.”

With 4,500 industrial units, boasting a work force of over a lakh and exporting goods worth Rs6,000 crore, Dharavi is attracting special attention, with the SRA in complete charge of eligibility, transit camps etc, and the developer asked to focus on construction by the officials. As per the new DCR, 15 per cent of the total 535 acres will be kept as open space. The successful bidder for each sector will be have to construct public amenities like hospitals, schools, on the plot. With an FSI of 4, the incentive of TDR (Transfer Development Rights) will have to be utilised within Dharavi to ensure a balanced residential and commercial development.