Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Government of Maharashtra, today announced that
eligible residential tenements in Dharavi will get flats with independent kitchens and toilets measuring a minimum 350 square feet (sq ft), which is a whopping 17% more and the highest among slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai.

Earlier, dwellers of informal settlements in Maharashtra were given houses measuring 269 sq ft. Since 2018, the state government started giving them homes measuring between 315 sq ft and 322 sq ft, in line with the minimum area mandated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for houses for the urban poor.

“The new flats will be dream homes for all Dharavikars and will upgrade their living conditions. Every home will reflect the spirit of a Dharavikar, whose aspirations have always mirrored those of a common Mumbaikar. We, at DRPPL, are committed to fulfilling these dreams and aspirations while keeping the very soul of Dharavi intact,” said a DRPPL spokesperson.

Eligible residential tenements are those that were in existence before 1 January, 2000.

Each flat will have a separate kitchen and an in-built independent toilet, and will be well-lit, ventilated, and hygienic, besides being secure.

It is DRPPL’s endeavour to transform Dharavi into a globally connected city with commercial and industrial premises, keeping its vibrant and unique entrepreneurial culture intact.

Upgrading the lives of Dharavikars, economic opportunities, futuristic education and vocational training, advanced healthcare facilities and a quality lifestyle: all this will be enabled at Dharavi and Navi Dharavi. They will also have community halls,
recreational areas, public gardens, dispensaries and daycare centres for children.

Ineligible residential tenements in Dharavi would be given accommodation under the proposed affordable rental housing policy, as per the Government of Maharashtra’s defined norms. For this, development similar to Dharavi would be undertaken in the several Navi Dharavis being planned, considering the large requirement of dwelling units.

DRPPL has taken up the challenge of transforming Dharavi and values support from all stakeholders for the much-awaited transformational project, which will set new benchmarks in slum rehabilitation and urban rejuvenation for the rest of the world to follow.

All the above will be benchmarked with best practices being followed in Singapore and other advanced nations for similar habitats.

Also Read: Adani Wins bid for Redeveloping Dharavi

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By Varun Singh

Dharavi Redevelopment has been in process for a pretty long time. For more than a decade, the residents of World’s one of the biggest slums have been awaiting that their future shall change.

While not much has happened on ground, the government has already spent crores on the process of Dharavi Redevelopment.

RTI by Anil Galgali reveal that, the government has spent close to Rs 31 crore on various expenses related to Dharavi Redevelopment.

Last year the state governmet had decided that it shall float fresh tenders for Dharavi Redevelopment.

The tenders were floated by Devendra Fadanvis government for the redevelopment of Dharavi.

Anil Galgali, an RTI activist, had inquired about the expenditure incurred on the Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

According to Galgali The Slum Rehabilitation Authority provided him a list of expenses incurred in the last 15 years.

Galgali says, that the list covers 15 years from 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2020.

“From 1st April 2005 to 31st March 2020, Rs 31.27 crore has been spent on Dharavi Redevelopment Project. An expenditure of Rs 15.85 crore has been shown on PMC charges,” said Galgali.

Apart from this Galgali claimed that an amount of Rs 3.65 crore was spent on advertising and dissemination. Rs 4.14 crore has been spent on business charges and surveys. Rs 2.27 crore has been spent on legal fees.

Also Read: Dharavi Redevelopment Tender Cancelled

The post Dharavi Redevelopment Hasn’t Moved Much, But These Many Crore Already Spent appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

Uddhav Thackeray led MVA government’s cabinet on Thursday decided to cancel the tender for Dharavi Redevelopment that was floated by Devendra Fadanvis led government in 2018.

One of World’s biggest slum, Dharavi has been waiting for redevelopment for over a decade and half now.

On August 28, 2020, squarefeatindia.com was the first to report that tenders for Dharavi Redevelopment will be cancelled.

Also Read: Dharavi Redevelopment, Govt May Cancel Tender

Today the government finally decided to cancel the tender.

This was the third time, the tenders were floated for Dharavi Redevelopment.

Now government will be floating fresh tenders. The first two times the tender was floated when Congress-NCP were in power.

The third tender was floated when Devendra Fadnavis led BJP-Shiv Sena was in power.

Now the Uddhav Thackeray led Maharashtra Vikas Agahdi cancelled the tender and will float a fresh one.

In August the Committee of Secretaries (CoS) met to take a call on the Dharavi Redevelopment tender.

The committee suggested to cancel the tender, and they proposed the same to the state government which finally took a call on it.

The CoS has relied its suggestion on the advice by the Advocate General (AG), who advised for fresh tenders. 

After floating the tender and receiving bids, the state government acquired 46 acres of land for Rs 800 crore from the Railway.

Post acquiring this land and making it a part of the Redevelopment Project, the advice from the AG was sought, who advised for fresh tenders. 

Global tenders were floated in November 2018, for Dharavi Redeveloper Project.

Decision of cancellation of tender hasn’t gone well with residents. Hariram Dilliwala, General Secretary, People’s Responsible Organisation for United Dharavi (PROUD) said, “The common public is upset, this is nothing but making a mockery of the slum dwellers. Our next generation has grown up listening to the promises of redevelopment of Dharavi.”

“The governments are taking us on a ride, they are showing us dreams of redevelopment and at the end they cancel the tenders. People of Dharavi aren’t happy with the news.”

Hariram Dilliwala, General Secretary, People’s Responsible Organisation for United Dharavi (PROUD)

Dharavi is spread over 240 hectare of land and is centrally located. It is close to Bandra Kurla Complex, the financial hub of Mumbai. 

In January 2019, DRP had received two tenders of which Seclink group was the frontrunner for the redevelopment of Dharavi which, according to reports had quoted Rs 7,200 crore.

The total project cost was estimated to be above Rs 27,000 crore.

When contacted Hiten Shah of Seclink for their comment he said, “It happens in India.”

Also Read: Dharavi To Get 672 Tenements By January End

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By Varun Singh

Dharavi residents have made their mind. They want a speedy redevelopment and hence, if there’s a fresh bid by the government, they say they will oppose it.

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of residents under the banner of Dharavi Redevelopment Committee (DRC) met and announced that, they have high hopes from Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray. They want redevelopment to be carried out and want government to go ahead with the previous bids instead of inviting new ones.

The Devendra Fadanvis led government had formed a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for the redevelopment of Dharavi, where government would also be part of it. Fadanvis government had announced that it will float a Special Purpose Vehicle for the redevelopment of Dharavi where the lead partner, when forms the SPV, will have 80% equity (Rs 400 crore) while the government will hold 20% equity (Rs 100 crore).

There were tenders floated and while Seclink group became a front runner, quoting Rs 7,200 crore, the second bidder was Adani who had bid Rs 4,500 crore. However, since January 2019 no decision has been taken yet on who to award the tender.

However, according to media reports, the advocate general for the state, Ashutosh Kumbhakoni has opined that the state should cancel the bids received and call for fresh bids.

Rajendra Korde, President of DRC says, the opinion of advocate general isn’t binding on the Chief Minister. “If fresh bids are invited then there will be a further delay. We have already waited for 16 years and cannot wait further. Entire redevelopment of Dharavi is stuck and if there’s a fresh tender floated we will oppose it,” said Korde.

According to Korde, since 2004 there has been no redevelopment in Dharavi, because of the ambitious Dharavi Redevelopment Project. He also blames officials sitting at the Mantralaya for the delay in the redevelopment.

Meanwhile, Seclink Group’s Hiten Shah on the issue of re-inviting tenders for Dharavi said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take time to establish a transparent proper system in this country for inviting proper investors.”

Shah further added, “He (PM) has other national issues to address on priority. Rehabilitation and welfare of Dharavi may come on his agenda after few years.”

Dharavi is spread over 240 acres of land in Central Mumbai and is one of the biggest slums in the continent. It has around 12,000 commercial establishments and over 67,000 residents.

Dharavi comprises of mult-storeyed shanties, chawls and some small buildings too. The demands of the Dharavi residents are as follows

As Dharavi Rehabilitation Project (DRP) is a vital public project, there should not be compulsion of the cut off date and every slum dweller must get a house for a house.

Every slum dweller should get a tenement of 400 sq ft and the residents of chawls of estate department and building should get a tenement admeasuring 753 sq ft.

Proper and special plan fro the rehabilitation of various industries running in Dharavi be made. The slum dwellers adjacent to railway lines and under Tata high tension power line also should be rehabilitated.

The residents also demand that the finding of survey and list of the eligible slum dwellers in the form of Annexure II, conducted by Mashal must be published y the government.

At the meeting of the Dharavi residents, they had the slogan ‘Hich Ti Vel’ printed, which means “this is the time’. Ironically this was the same slogan that was used by Shiv Sena during the Maharashtra state elections. Korde says if government wants to float fresh tenders it is better they allow Dharavi residents to go for redevelopment on their own as residents have lost their patience after waiting for 16-years.

Also Read: Dharavi Residents Want Neighbour CM Thackeray To Speed Redevelopment.

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