A bold architectural design is now ready for a new Dharavi, complete with pedestrian-only roads, elevated walk-ways with green zones and a huge plaza housing residential and commercial units as well as schools and community spaces. The masterplan will serve as guidelines for the realty companies in the Rs 15,000-crore Dharavi Redevelopment Project.

“We have completed the masterplan design details for Sector 2,” said Gautam Chatterjee, vice-president of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and officer on special duty for the project. With inputs from an independent panel of experts, the plan was drawn up by project management consultant Mukesh Mehta, Chatterjee said.

In the form of a two-tier podium plaza occupying a 67,000-sq m footprint in Sector 2 of Dharavi, the design integrates commercial and residential rehabilitation units in a single structure. The first two levels of the podium will house commercial units, possibly with large blocks dedicated to sectors like leather goods or garments, Chatterjee said.

The commercial spaces on the ground and ground-plus-one level are designed to be 14 ft high, to make way for usable mezzanine spaces. Above the two commercial levels is a parking lot — of 67,000 sq m area — accessible by ramps from each end of the plaza. Above that will be the rehabilitation buildings, with schools and gardens at the deck level, which will be at a height of 35 ft and also accessible from an elevated walkway linking Sion and Mahim railway stations.

“We have taken into account various sensitivities and challenges, including that of space for the commercial activity and home industries that Dharavi is known for, the high density of population, the need for community spaces within buildings, etc,” he said.

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