Tenders to be floated for consultants….Kavitha Iyer
Mumbai The long-delayed Dharavi Redevelopment Project could finally get a nudge forward with the government all set to invite tenders for a consultant to advise the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) on planning the redevelopment of Sector 5 of the slum, which is to be undertaken by the authority.
This May, the state government decided to form a special cell in MHADA to undertake the Rs 2,000-crore redevelopment of Dharavi’s Sector 5, a 23-hectare sprawl adjoining the Mahim Nature Park. A new consultant will be appointed soon for the sector, confirmed officials, while existing Project Management Consultant Mukesh Mehta’s arbitration with the government on earlier disputes continues.
“Everything is ready to float tenders inviting contractors for Sector 5,” said MHADA vice-president Satish Gavai. “We are awaiting the amendment of the Development Control Regulations to enable us to give 300-sq feet homes to those being rehabilitated.” While those eligible for rehousing in various slum rehabilitation projects in the city are entitled to 269-sq ft homes, the government has committed to give Dharavi’s slumdwellers 300-sq ft apartments.
Officials also said a final nod to the decision to extend protection to residents of shanties built before the cutoff date of January 1, 1995, but purchased by the current occupants later, is expected “within days”.
This move is expected to reduce resistance to the redevelopment project from slumdwellers by virtue of increasing the numbers of those found eligible for free rehousing.
The redevelopment of Sector 5 is expected to generate about 5,000 affordable homes for MHADA, which barely has any land bank in Mumbai.