MUMBAI: Residents of chawls and buildings included in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project will receive rehabilitation flats ranging from a minimum of 500 sq ft to a maximum of 754 sq ft, free of charge. This initiative will benefit approximately 8,700 households within the Dharavi Notified Area, encompassing both chawls and housing societies.
This decision follows directives issued by CM Devendra Fadnavis during a meeting last May, where he instructed the DRP to propose a minimum carpet area of 500 sq ft to the government for approval, accompanied by justifications. Consequently, the DRP submitted a proposal for a minimum carpet area of 500 sq ft (which includes 370 sq ft of carpet area plus 35% fungible area), stipulating that developers would not be entitled to an incentive floor space index on the fungible area. It’s important to note that this provision will not apply to slum dwellers under the DRP.
On Thursday, the state urban development department issued a notice to amend Regulation 33(9)(A) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR)-2034 to facilitate this change and has invited public objections and suggestions. Previously, the government had offered only 400 sq ft carpet areas to residents, a move that faced significant opposition.
Residents have expressed skepticism regarding the government proposal. “The master plan for Dharavi has yet to be made public. We are uncertain about the specifics of the plan, such as where we will be rehabilitated—whether in Dharavi, Matunga, or elsewhere. They are evicting slum dwellers despite previously assuring us of key-to-key rehabilitation. There is a prevailing atmosphere of fear and a distinct lack of transparency,” stated Reedan Fernando, coordinator of the DRP Sector 1 Rahiwasi Kruti Sangh.
Another resident, Rajesh Sharma, mentioned that there are 45 buildings in Shahu Nagar, with flat sizes ranging from 275 to 375 sq ft. “Since 2004, we have insisted on being allocated 750 sq ft flats. If that is what the government is now offering us in Dharavi, we will have no objections,” he said.
DRP officials indicated that 11,000 rehabilitation flats are currently under construction in Phase I on railway land; however, this land is not vacant and currently houses existing slums. As a result, residents will have to be temporarily relocated. “This temporary relocation is only for Phase I. In the later phases, residents will not need to be moved out,” explained a senior DRP official. Nevertheless, sources suggest that this temporary relocation may extend throughout the entire project.
