Experts prepare road map to make city slum-free…..Ketaki Ghoge
Surbana International, Singapore-based consultants appointed by the government for preparing a concept plan of the city, claims that the government’s current schemes won’t transform Mumbai into a global one even in the next 40 years. Surbana has prepared a report giving pointers on making Mumbai slums-free and creating affordable housing stock.
The report said over-dependence on the private sector could not lead to affordable housing.
The consultants have suggested seven pilot projects in the housing sector over the next decade. These include one slum rehabilitation project, three redevelopment of existing colonies, building of three new townships and master plan for an entire ward.
For instance, the consultants have suggested redevelopment of two Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) colonies — Tagore Nagar and Kannamwar Nagar sprawling over 68 and 56 hectares respectively. The redevelopment of these colonies by Mhada with 2.5 FSI can lead to a windfall of 25,500 additional affordable housing tenements.
Similarly, redevelopment of BDD Chawls with floating FSI of 4 with the help of the private sector on the condition of generating at least 50% affordable homes can lead to additional 4,000 units.
The consultants have called for increasing the public sector’s stake in housing from existing 10% to 30%. It has asked the government to demand a 20-25% share for affordable houses in all mega redevelopment projects.
Christopher Shugg, senior vice-president, Surbana, recommended, “Master planning of five to 10 hectares with concentration of cessed buildings, creation of 10 lakh rental homes by MMRDA, slum mapping and rehabilitation strategy for each shanty town and strategic land acquisition is necessary in the next decade.”
Chief secretary Ratnakar Gaikwad said, “Even if the goal of having a slum-free city by 2052 seems difficult, we can look at upgrading our existing slums. We are open to the report.”