Underlining the idea that a makeover project for Dharavi is still a sound business project, the first of the 19 shortlisted consortia in the fray for the Rs 15,000-crore redevelopment scheme on Tuesday presented their masterplans to government officials and a panel of experts.

The masterplan presentations precede a deliberative process regarding each plan’s technical merits, which will be followed by the opening of the financial bids. With the election code of conduct expected to kick in during the review process, the opening of financial bids and awarding of contracts are now unlikely to take place until the general elections are over.

Two consortia, DB Realty and a combine of Emaar-MGF, presented their masterplans on the first of a 10-day process, said sources at the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

The presentations were made to a team headed by MHADA chief Gautam Chatterjee, also officer on special duty for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project, and members of the expert committee set up to advise the government on planning, management and implementation of the project. The 11-member committee comprises architects, city planners, activists and former bureaucrats including former chief secretary D M Sukhtankar, former IAS officer Sunder Burra, urban planner Vidyadhar Phatak, architect Shirish Patel, housing expert Chandrashekhar Prabhu and others.

“It was a very good beginning,” said Chatterjee, “since both presentations addressed the key issues we hoped would be dealt with. The integration of Dharavi to the mainstream, the need to be sensitive to the economic activities within Dharavi and the need for an eco-sensitive plan were all addressed in today’s presentations.”

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