Some vital stats on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. (source)
Area: 535acres; to be developed into five sectors
Ownership: 69% owned by BMC, 10% by state and central governments and balance 21% is private land
Families affected: 50-60,000; each will get one 225sqft tenement as rehabilitation
Industrial units: 4,500. Each will the same 225sqft tenement.
Companies bidding: 26 consortia, i.e. combinations of global players and domestic ones. For eg. Reliance Land + Hines Real Estate, HDIL + Lehman, Runwal Group + Capitaland, etc.
Bid document: Handed out to 101 companies at Rs1lakh/document.
Scrutiny of bids: Under progress, to be completed by Sept-end
Short-listed candidates: To be announced after scrutiny is over. Five developers (consortia as above) who will develop one sector each.
Bid submission: Technical and finance bids by above short-listed candidates to be submitted by October 15, 2007
Bid finalisation: By December 15, 2007
Size of project: Rs9,250crores, or US$2.3billion.
Now, consider this: Dharavi is an entire economy on its own. To replace that with proper real-estate development is not going to be easy. Its one thing to provide free housing to a slum-dweller, but another to replace his daily wage, assuming that's even possible. Unless, politicians and builders get together and with their combined strength move this forward.
Wonder why there are no protests here from any political party over issues like consent of the residents, land acquisition, substitution of income, environmental and infrastructure impact, etc.. No agitations, no protests. Nothing.
Back up. Did you say "Politicians and builders get together"?
Friday, August 31, 2007
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6 comments:
Hi Bud
Good to see you posting again. Your point on Dharavi being an entire economy providing people a daily wage is valid. But the relevant question is - "Why should the dirtiest, most polluting industries be in the heart of Bombay? And when a very large number of people are being moved out of the most attrocious living conditions imaginable into decent flats, why should we crib if some jobs are lost and some builders get rich in the process. In fact, assuming the rehab is fair, people who work in Dharavi industries can sell their flats (250 sq ft should fetch at least Rs. 25 lakhs!!! even @Rs. 10,000 psf - many days wages)and move to some less developed area where the same industry can be set up on dirt cheap land. Lets not be reflexively opposed to change.
UI - Thanks for the comment. Fair point and I wish I had an answer to your question. I'm not opposed to change, as long as it happens in a fair and equitable manner. Lets hope the politicians and the builders can ensure this happens to whatever degree possible. Lets wait and watch.
I have personally gone through the Dharavi project reports and presentations and even spoken to most of the parties concerned. While on paper, the plan is great. If implemented well, i think it could serve as a example for any rehab projects. But my only concern is the baggage that slum rehab schemes in mumbai carry today. riddled in corruption and court cases. The Architect Mukesh Mehta is confident that the plan will work well. I think it just needs a bit of a WILL. WOnder where we oculd buy that from?
Unknown Indian: Just a point...rehab houses cannot be sold till at least 10 years after they are handed over.
If implemented well, i think it could serve as a example for any rehab projects. - Touche Strays. Agree on that. Thanks for the comment. Would love to read your thoughts (since you've spoken to the affected people) on this issue.
Thanks for the info. Very interesting. Is the proposed MEtro system going to service the Dharavi site (planned stations?)
Keep up the good work!
N
Navcity - thanks for the comment. Sorry, I don't have any idea if it is.
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