BMC proposes 64 slum redevelopment projects in 11 wards
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has floated an Expression of Interest (EoI) for slum development scheme in 64 civic plots across Mumbai on the lines of the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP)—the ambitious project undertaken by the state government, in collaboration with the Adani group, for development of the slums in Dharavi.
The BMC's move of floating the EoI comes three months after it took a decision to lease out its own land parcels to private entities to generate revenue.
Slum development schemes are real estate projects aimed at transforming slum clusters to high-rises with the dual aim of providing housing to eligible slum dwellers as well as selling flats for revenue generation. The rehabilitation (rehab) to sale ratio is determined by factors such as the existing development plan, floor space index (FSI) regulations, and the specific project's design. Rehab tenements are built for eligible slum dwellers, while sale tenements are for the open market to help subsidize the rehabilitation costs.
On March 28, the state government announced the development of 228 slums across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). This project would be initiated by local civic authorities and planning bodies such as the BMC, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), CIDCO and Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority. Out of the 228 projects, BMC will be responsible for executing 64 projects.
Civic officials said the redevelopment of the plots will be carried out according to the Development Plan (2034) module of the BMC. The contractors appointed for the project will be executing all responsibilities, such as survey of slums, planning and preparation of the project, securing permission and no-objection certificate, construction of the tenements as well as their maintenance post construction. Furthermore, the BMC's EoI also states that the civic authorities will only appoint developers who have prior knowledge of executing projects related to slum and housing rehabilitation.
'The plots identified were already reserved for executing various government schemes. As a result, developing these plots will not only promote the government's objective of housing for all but will also create amenities such as open spaces and parking lots. Since these plots are entirely owned by the civic body, the chances of facing any legal hurdle are minimum,' said a civic official.
'The developers for each project will be set up via tendering module and proper public consultation will be carried out before going ahead,' the official added.
Meanwhile, the BMC's move has invited criticism from political quarters. Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Rais Shaikh said the BMC doesn't have experience of successfully executing slum rehabilitation projects and that such projects focus on specific-area development instead of cluster development.
He further pointed out that the BMC has not even been able to redevelop schools under its own jurisdiction. 'The responsibility for these 64 SRA projects now lies with the municipal administration, which has previously failed to redevelop its own schools. The poor deserve ownership housing, and the civic administration must show flexibility to make this possible. Since the land for these 64 SRA projects belongs to the BMC, the civic body must ensure that these projects are not stalled like the Dharavi redevelopment due to misguided policies,' Shaikh said.
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