S. V. R. Srinivas explains the key components and modalities of the comprehensive resident survey and the different categories of rehab eligibility with regular government app-based monitoring and grievance mechanism in place.
The Dharavi Redevelopment Project Pvt. (DRPPL), a joint venture between the Government of Maharashtra and the Adani Group, will initiate a data-collection survey of lakhs the informal tenement residents in the area from March 18. The data will be used by the Maharashtra government to determine their rehabilitation eligibility criteria under the proposed redevelopment project. The survey will also create ‘Digital Dharavi’ – an advanced library of one of the world’s largest informal settlements.
Informing the modalities of the survey, the project CEO S. V. R. Srinivas said the starting date of the survey, which has been deemed a key component of the task of identifying residents in the slum cluster eligible and ineligible for rehabilitation under the project, will be announced in a few days.” Basically, the survey is to determine who is eligible for settlement &rehabilitation. Secondly, it will entail household surveys so the teams will go house-to-house and a biometric will be done accompanied by videography. The documents of proof will have to be shown to the team which will be returned after scrutiny then and there. The entire process will be electronic, not manual, so it will be fool proof and finally, it is very important that this survey will not be just for residents alone but will also include a survey of commercial structures like factories, shops. Even community structures would come in the purview of the survey so there will be three-four categories. Thus, it will be a very comprehensive survey.
Mr Srinivas pointed out that “we are starting the survey next week beginning with a small area but that will be a pilot and if necessary, we will do some adjustments in the rest of the exercise. I expect it to take about 6 to 7 months.”
Explaining how the government will go ahead with the criteria, Mr Srinivas clarified that the entire exercise will be regulated and overseen by the government. The eligibility will also be decided by the government not by any other agency. The only thing is we shall be using the help of some private agencies to carry out the survey as we do not have the staff strength required. That is the only thing that has been outsourced but the decisions will be by the government. In this context, I would like to reiterate what I had said earlier: That this is the only project of its kind in India where for the first time all the residents will be rehabilitative irrespective of whether they are eligible or not subject to certain conditions Those who are eligible will be given incentives and those who are not will be given higher purchase-based accommodation. So, this is the first step in that direction and the fact is this has been in the offing for the last two decades. Thus, this is a huge step in the right direction. In the other SRA schemes this is not so.”
Speaking about the timeline as to how long it will take for the project to see the light of the day, Mr Srinivas said: “The criteria is already fixed for eligibility. Only thing we have to see is whether individuals are particularly eligible for regular accommodation or rental housing which is the only difference. Even rental housing can be purchased or hire-purchase basis. That is one part. The second is we anticipate the survey to take 6 to 8 months but for the construction to happen for the rehab part, should take about 7 years’ time. It will be quite challenging but given the timelines and complexities that we have, we cannot promise that in 3-4 years. At the same time, we also can’t say that this project will go on endlessly for like 20 years as it will be futile in the long run.”
Referring to the idea of Digital Dharavi, Mr Srinivas said “the survey teams will carry the mobile app where relevant data will be fed in and it will be connected to the central server so that the government can easily monitor on a daily basis. There is also a grievance mechanism in place where we are trying to have a single window grievance mechanism and there will also be a kiosk with a toll-free number where they can be effectively addressed. The digitisation will help us and residents to make it as less frictionless as possible.
According to a related information, the survey is slated to begin from Kamla Raman Nagar, with a unique number being given to each informal tenement. This will be followed by laser mapping of the respective lane, known as ‘Lidar Survey.’
The survey for Dharavi Redevelopment Project and Government of Maharashtra kickstarts one of the largest urban rejuvenation projects in the world and is the first step to make Mumbai slum-free. It is the beginning of transforming Dharavi into a world-class township, a state-of-the-art city within Mumbai. A toll-free number- 1800-268-8888 has also been launched for resident Dharavikars.
Under the redevelopment project, every informal tenement holder and qualified ineligible tenement holder will get a home. As per the DRP tender, all eligible and ineligible resident tenement holders will get a flat with an independent kitchen and toilet. Eligible industrial and commercial units in redeveloped Dharavi will receive a five-year holiday in State Goods and Services Tax. This will help promote and formalise their businesses.
The DRPPL has engaged foreign city and infrastructure planning experts — US-based design firm Sasaki and UK-based town planners Buro Happold — to design the project. In November 2022, the Adani Group had won the Rs 23,000 crore Dharavi Redevelopment Project bid to redevelop Asia’s largest slum cluster spread over 600 acres in the heart of India’s commercial capital Mumbai with a bid of Rs 5,069 crore.
