Residents of Dharavi, Asia's largest slum cluster, will be provided 350 square feet area homes with attached kitchens and bathrooms, as announced in a press release issued by the Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt Ltd (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Maharashtra government on Monday. The size of the homes, measuring 350 sq ft, is claimed to be the highest among slum redevelopment projects in Mumbai.
According to the DRPPL press note, eligible residential tenements are those that were in existence prior to January 1, 2000. Each flat will feature a separate kitchen and an in-built independent toilet, designed to be well-lit, ventilated, hygienic and secure.
'Dream homes for Dharavikars'
Previously, inhabitants of informal settlements in Maharashtra were provided houses measuring 269 sq ft. Since 2018, the state government began allocating homes ranging between 315 sq ft and 322 sq ft. This size adhered to the minimum area mandated under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for homes for the urban poor.
"The new flats will be dream homes for all Dharavikars and will upgrade their living conditions. Every home will reflect the spirit of a Dharavikar, whose aspirations have always mirrored those of a common Mumbaikar. We, at DRPPL, are committed to fulfilling these dreams and aspirations while keeping the very soul of Dharavi intact," stated a DRPPL spokesperson.
"The vision is to transform Dharavi into a globally connected city with commercial and industrial premises, keeping its unique entrepreneurial spirit intact," he added. The project aims to include economic opportunities, futuristic education, including vocational training, advanced healthcare facilities, and a quality lifestyle for stakeholders. It will also incorporate community halls, recreational areas, public spaces, gardens, dispensaries, and daycare centers for children, among other amenities.
'Navi Dharavi'
Ineligible residential tenements, as per the press note, will be accommodated under the proposed affordable rental housing policy, following the defined norms of the Government of Maharashtra. This relocation will be to the several "Navi Dharavis" planned to meet the large requirement of dwelling units. The Navi Dharavis will be fashioned and designed along the same lines as the original, the spokesperson said.
The vision is to set new benchmarks in slum rehabilitation and urban rejuvenation for the rest of the world to emulate and follow, he stated. "These will be benchmarked with best practices being followed in Singapore and other advanced nations for similar habitats."
This human-centric transformation, the note explained, is about rebuilding spaces and reinventing the very essence of community living, dovetailing state-of-the-art imperatives of transportation connectivity, electricity, water, and the internet while enabling a hygienic environment with civic amenities, all benchmarked with the best in class.
The DRPPL is a Special Purpose Vehicle, formed as a joint venture between the Adani Group and the Government of Maharashtra.
