Major Builders Invited to Overhaul Dharavi

May 31, 2007	(1 votes, average: 3 out of 5)  Loading ...
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Five major property developers have been invited to take up the controversial project to redevelop Dharavi, Asia’s largest slum. Spread over an area of 1.75 kms along the Mahim river in Central Mumbai, the slum houses some 57,000 families – about 300,000 people who will be accommodated into free but small 1 bedroom homes in the area.

The drive is decided to clean the land for business and development of exclusive high rise buildings. Dharavi occupies 535 acres between the suburbs of Sion and Kurla on one side and the tiny area of Bandra on the other.

Prominent developers have shown large interest in the project. It includes DLF Ltd., Kalpataru Construction Pvt. Ltd., Group, Unitech Ltd., Hiranandani Developers Pvt. Ltd. and companies belonging to the Reliance Industries group and the Anil D Ambani Group, told a senior officer at Slum Redevelopment Authority (SRA) who did not wish to be named.

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 9,300 crore which has been modified from the earlier estimations Rs 6,000 crore. Maharashtra Government keenly desires a big makeover for Dharavi as a model for other slum redevelopment projects in the city and state.

In 2006, the government planned to issue a global tender for the redevelopment of Dharavi, but it was overturned as the Dharavi dwellers protested fearing displacement. SRA then shelved the project.

The government had raised the floor space index for Dharavi, allowing builders to construct and sell more on the same space. The project has invited the wrath of Dharavi residents who are running self sufficient economy among the narrow lanes of the slum.

News Published Under:   Mumbai |

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