Maharashtra's Dharavi Redevelopment promises new homes, no financial burden

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP) promises a new chapter for the residents of Dharavi, offering them brand-new homes with modern amenities and no financial burden. Under this initiative, the Maharashtra state government has committed to providing free housing to eligible Dharavi residents, with additional affordable housing options available through the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana or a hire-purchase scheme for those who do not qualify. Residents will also enjoy a maintenance-free living for the first 10 years, with electromechanical maintenance costs fully covered by the developer. To further ease the financial burden, the state has planned to allocate 10% of the built-up area for commercial spaces, generating revenue that will help sustain the project long-term. A statutory corpus fund per tenement will also be deposited to the competent authority to ensure continued upkeep.

This redevelopment project stands out for its focus on sustainability, with the government addressing common challenges seen in other cooperative societies and slum rehabilitation projects. Dharavikars will benefit from amenities such as 24/7 water and electricity supply, private toilets, and kitchens, offering a significant improvement over their current living conditions. Residents who settled before 2000 will receive homes of 350 square feet, which are 17% larger than those in other slum rehabilitation projects. The DRP aims to uplift not just Dharavi, but also surrounding neighborhoods. Residents who don’t qualify for homes within Dharavi will be resettled in new townships across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), where schools, hospitals, shopping centers, and other essential services will be developed, improving quality of life in these areas. The 2022 tender of the DRP addresses previous development shortcomings by ensuring financial and infrastructure sustainability, while also including provisions for upper-floor residents who are often overlooked in slum rehabilitation projects. This ambitious redevelopment goes beyond just providing housing; it aims to build inclusive, modern communities and set a new standard for human-centered urban transformation, benefitting both Dharavi residents and the wider MMR.