Andheri set for Mumbai’s first 100-acre slum cluster redevelopment

Mumbai: Three players are in the fray for Mumbai’s first cluster Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) scheme spread over 100 acres in Andheri (West).

The scheme, known as the Juhu Gulli SRA scheme, stretches from Juhu Galli (C D Barfiwala Road) to the backyard of the Hansraj Morarji Public School and houses 28,061 slum hutments, residential tenants or owners. Under the cluster scheme, slums can be redeveloped along with non-slum old dilapidated buildings, tenant-occupied buildings, vacant land unsuitable for construction and some private buildings too. For the first time, large corporate companies in the housing sector, Shapoorji Pallonji Real Estate, Reliance 4IR Realty Development Ltd and JSW Realty & Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, have participated in an SRA tender, officials said.

“Three top corporate players have submitted their bids and each has submitted a deposit of Rs 175 crore. There will be a technical evaluation of all the bids and then they will be submitted to the high-powered committee (HPC) of the state govt. Once the HPC approves it, the financial bids will be opened. Development of open spaces, playgrounds, schools, health facilities and other basic amenities is also part of the plan,” said SRA CEO Mahindra Kalyankar.

“For the first time in the history of SRA, a system of complete transparency, competitive bidding process and complete cessation of LOI trading has been implemented. The corporate sector, conscious of its social and ethical commitment, is participating in this process and taking the initiative to provide a better and dignified standard of living to the slum dwellers,” Kalyankar said.

The total area of the land parcel is 101.36 acres, out of which 61.4 acres are slums. Tenders were invited in April for the appointment of the Construction & Development Agency (C&DA) for this project.

“There are slums in Mumbai as well as some old dilapidated buildings, construction works, tenant-occupied buildings, vacant land unsuitable for construction and some settlements. The cluster redevelopment scheme will be implemented to ensure that the redevelopment of such areas is done in an integrated and sustainable manner in terms of urban planning, so that all civic facilities can also be developed in a modern and scientific manner, and the quality of life of the citizens of this place will be improved. For this, a special plan for cluster redevelopment has been drawn up. As per the provisions of this scheme, the SRA shall be the nodal agency for the slum cluster redevelopment scheme,” Kalyankar said.

After approval from the high-powered committee, owners of private land will be provided with a developed plot with an equivalent FSI, valued on the basis of Town Planning Scheme (TPS) for inclusion in the proposed slum cluster scheme, at a rate of 50% of the total land value.

While this is the first and the biggest slum cluster redevelopment project of the SRA, the Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamraj Nagar mega-redevelopment project in Ghatkopar spans a total plot area of approximately 32 to 33.29 hectares (about 79 to 82 acres). It is being redeveloped by MMRDA.

The Motilal Nagar redevelopment in Goregaon West is being redeveloped by Adani Group partnership with Mhada. It is spread across 143 acres.

The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) core rehabilitation is nearly 300 acres.