In one week,MHADA to ready roadmap for Dharavi Sector 5

Chatterjee said it was decided at the meeting that a timeframe will be finalised within the next three or four days for various steps to be taken by MHADA to expedite work on Sector 5,including appointing a contractor,deciding where the houses will be built,town planning and architectural issues,etc. “MHADA will also appoint a consultant who will oversee planning for Sector 5,” he said.

Last week,Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had passed orders that the 23-hectare Sector 5 near Mahim Nature Park will be carved out from the two sq km area of Dharavi and handed over to MHADA for redevelopment. As for the remaining four sectors,the government is expected to go in for fresh bids.

Senior MHADA officials said many residents will be temporarily housed in transit camps that have been constructed in Dharavi. The redevelopment of Sector 5 is expected to generate about 5,000 affordable homes for MHADA,which barely has any land bank in Mumbai. “Even when we go in for fresh retendering for the remaining four sectors,we will ensure that we get additional homes from the developers who win the bids. Under the previous plan,there was only a provision for collecting premium,but it said nothing about handing over built-up area to MHADA,” said Mumbai Board chairman Amarjeet Singh Manhas.

Meanwhile,MHADA is expected to enter into a joint venture with the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to create affordable houses. About 100 acres in Lodhivali and some land at Adai,both near near Panvel,will be used by MHADA to create public housing. MSRDC,on the other hand,will benefit from the revenue generated through the project.