Latest news with #SaifeeBurhaniUpliftmentTrust
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Sukoon and Shukoor: Bhendi Bazaar's revival pushes forward
MUMBAI: In the heart of Bhendi Bazaar, where narrow, dimly lit alleys service one of the oldest parts of the inner-city, residents now speak a different language: one of sukoon (peace) and shukoor (gratitude). These two words capture the transformation unfolding in Dawoodi Bohra Mohalla, a place once synonymous with crumbling buildings, encroached streets, and shared toilets. Flat in Al- Ezz twin towers at Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust in Mumbai. (Anshuman Poyrekar/ HT Photo) By the end of 2025, over 1,280 families will move into Al Ezz – 53-storey twin towers that occupy 1.34 acres and whose name means 'honour' in Arabic. A mixed-use development, the towers will also house 260 shops, and will replace 23 dilapidated buildings from the old Bhendi Bazaar. Al Ezz is one of six multi-storey towers being built as part of one of India's largest urban renewal projects. Covering 16.5 acres, the cluster redevelopment project is helmed by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT). Launched in 2009, it will eventually rehouse 3,200 families and 1,250 shops, once housed in 250 dilapidated buildings. Moving into Al Ezz will be a life-changing event for Tasneem Rajkotwala, who recalls her earlier life in a 150-sq ft home with a shared toilet. 'We're so happy to finally have flats on ownership, a space that's ours. There's so much sukoon, and we're filled with shukoor for our Syedna, who gave us this better life.' Rajkotwala's new home is a 375-sqft, one-bedroom apartment with a private bathroom. She will have access to elevators, round-the-clock water supply, and a garbage chute to segregate dry and west waste on every floor. The contrast with her past life is striking. 'Earlier, we had no privacy. There was no proper garbage disposal, no parking space, and water had to be filled early in the morning.' Initiated in 2009 by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the SBUT project is revolutionary not only due to its scale but also because it preserves the culture and social ethos of the old settlement, giving its identity new expression in a modern avatar. Built into this blueprint are community spaces, once cramped and overrun, that have been restored. The local mosque, previously too small for gatherings, now comfortably hosts prayers in a large and serene environment in the Raudat Tahera. Like the rest of the project, Al Ezz is not just rehousing its residents, it's rebuilding lives. 'It's a blueprint for how Indian cities can modernise without erasing identity,' said the SBUT spokesperson. In Al Ezz, alongside residential units, are three floors housing commercial units. Already operational, they have ensured that businesses continue without displacement. A temporary commercial transit hub was constructed to support shopkeepers during the shift. Nafisa Kanchwala says her family has been living in Bohri Mohalla for around a century. 'Ours was a one-room, 350-sq ft home but now we are getting a 1 BHK with a private toilet. We look forward to living in an environment that promises good ventilation and great amenities.' The redevelopment goes beyond aesthetics. The project is built on principles of sustainability, safety and smart urban planning, boasting solar rooftop panels, rainwater harvesting, and a sewage treatment plant for responsible water use and disposal. Garbage chutes on every floor enable waste segregation at source. Wide 18-metre roads replace former 7-metre lanes, now complete with pedestrian footpaths and streetlights. Over 700 native trees are being planted to improve air quality and restore green cover. Open spaces, a children's play area, landscaped gardens, and seating areas designed to foster community interaction, a rare luxury in the former congested quarters, have enhanced the quality of life for residents. Bhendi Bazaar's identity has always been closely tied to its commercial life, from antique stores to beloved eateries like Jilani's and Shabbir's Tawakkal Sweets. Rather than displace these icons, SBUT has woven them into the new landscape, blending modern commercial hubs with old-world charm. The SBUT project comprises six towers. While two towers, in Phase I, have been occupied, two others including Al Ezz, in Phase II, are approaching completion. The last two will be complete in 2027. Even during construction, community life is not compromised. 'More than 950 residential transit units were built at Anjeerwadi, with another 1,100 provided by MHADA, ensuring that families were moved into safe, temporary housing,' said the SBUT spokesperson. Says Rajkotwala, 'We are at peace even in our transit homes. It's already better than the homes we left behind.'
Business Upturn
24-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Capacit'e Infraprojects bags Rs 621 crore contract from Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust
By Aman Shukla Published on June 24, 2025, 14:14 IST Capacit'e Infraprojects Limited has announced the receipt of a Letter of Intent (LOI) from Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) for a ₹621 crore contract. The order pertains to the execution of core and shell works, including all finishing and MEPF services, for Sector 07 of the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project located at Ward 'C', Bhendi Bazaar, Mumbai. This is the third repeat order awarded to Capacit'e by SBUT, reflecting strong client trust and consistent project delivery. The project reinforces Capacit'e's presence in Mumbai's premium urban redevelopment space. Commenting on the development, Mr. Rahul Katyal, Managing Director, Capacit'e Infraprojects, said, 'We are honoured by the continued trust SBUT has placed in us. This repeat order is a testament to the quality, reliability, and execution capability our team brings to the table. We remain committed to delivering best-in-class infrastructure solutions on time and to the highest standards.' The company views this order as a significant addition to its growing order book and a reaffirmation of its strategy to focus on prestigious urban development projects. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Hindustan Times
13-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai's biggest cluster redevelopment project set to take off in Kamathipura
MUMBAI: Kamathipura, one of the oldest neighbourhoods in South Mumbai, is all set for a transformation, as MHADA has floated tenders for a construction and development agency for its redevelopment. Its century-old, cramped and dilapidated structures will now be converted into skyscrapers with all the facilities that a metropolis like Mumbai can offer. It will also be the city's biggest cluster redevelopment scheme spread over 34 acres. Kamathipura's redevelopment is expected to give a big boost to the real estate market after the ongoing redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar, also known as Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) project, which covers 16.5 acres. Divided into a grid of fifteen lanes, Kamathipura encompasses 943 cessed buildings, 349 non-cessed buildings, 14 religious places and two schools run by the BMC. 'They will all be developed in an integrated manner under Regulation 33 (9) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations 2034 through the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board,' states a note issued by MHADA on Thursday. Regulation 33 (9) involves redeveloping a group of buildings, often located on contiguous plots. The state government approved the Kamathipura project on January 12, 2023, following which Mahimtura Consultants was appointed as the project management consultant (PMC) through a tendering process. Under the project, the residents will receive larger homes along with well-planned infrastructure and facilities. The project will also have commercial buildings as the builder's profit share. 'The project will make available 44,000 square metres of land to MHADA, resulting in a significant increase in housing stock, while the developer will get 5,67,000 square metres to construct around 4,500 new units,' explained a senior MHADA official. The project will bring a better life for around 8,000 tenants, 6,625 of whom are residential and 1,376 non-residential. Apart from them, there are around 800 landowners who own most of the structures in the area. The owners will get a 500-sq-ft flat against every 539-sq-ft plot. If the size of the plot is 51 sq metres to 100 sq metres, the owner will get two flats measuring 500 sq ft each. For plots ranging between 100 sq metres and 150 sq metres, the owner will get three flats and so on. Kamathipura is one of the most densely populated areas of Mumbai. It suffered years of stigmatisation owing to its having a red-light area but is now a mixed locality of migrant labourers and working-class and middle-class families. It also has several small-scale industries such as a scrap market, a denim-dyeing industry, leather bag and shoe-making units and zari embroidery units among others.
