After the state’s announcement of steady redevelopment of Dharavi’s slums, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made an enabling provision in its Development Control Regulations (DCR) publishe
After the state’s announcement of steady redevelopment of Dharavi’s slums, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) made an enabling provision in its Development Control Regulations (DCR) published on Sunday, giving redevelopment in this area an exceptional FSI of 4. The BMC has published three chapters of its DCR related to FSI, transferable development rights, open space and other special building provisions.
This move for Dharavi’s FSI comes after Dharavi’s redeveloper Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (Mhada) specially requested the BMC for higher FSI, as opposed to other areas of Mumbai undergoing redevelopment, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta said.
However, urban planners and activists have pointed fingers, alleging that the area has been given preferential treatment, as opposed to Oshiwara, Backbay Reclamation, Bandra Reclamation and Bandra Kurla Complex’s redevelopment. Pankaj Joshi, executive director of UDRI, said, “It is worth questioning why only Dharavi is being given preferential treatment when about eight other areas in Mumbai are also undergoing redevelopment.”
In his defence, Mr Mehta explained that some areas are being redeveloped by the BMC, others by SRA and Dharavi by Mhada. Based on a special request by Mhada, Dharavi was given the FSI.
As per this provision, each eligible house owner of Dharavi will be given carpet area presently occupied by him, subject to norms of minimum carpet area of 300 sq feet. Also, preference for this scheme will be given to households in the name of women, or of a differently-abled person.
For structures that have areas more than 300 sq ft, residential space of carpet area totalling 400 sq ft will be given. Out of this, 300 sq ft area will be free of cost and the remaining 100 sq ft will be at a construction cost determined by the SRA. This cost will be paid by the inhabitant to the developer.
