A key hurdle in the Dharavi Redevelopment Project has been cleared with the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) committee approving the transfer of the Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots to Navbharat Mega Developers Pvt. Ltd. (NMDPL), the Adani Group-led entity spearheading the redevelopment initiative. The proposal, which was first put forward nearly two years ago, will now be placed before the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for further approval.
Spread across a combined area of 11.58 acres, the two depots form an important component of the land required for the large-scale redevelopment of Dharavi. Since the construction of replacement depots is expected to take up to seven years, authorities have devised an interim arrangement to ensure bus operations continue during the transition period.
Under the approved plan, a temporary depot will be developed on 6.17 acres of the existing land parcel. However, the temporary facility will have significantly lower capacity than the current depots. While the Dharavi and Kalakilla depots presently accommodate 288 buses, the interim facility will be able to house only 145 buses, creating additional challenges for BEST in managing the remaining fleet. The balance 5.41 acres of land will be transferred only after the permanent depot facilities become operational.
According to officials, two modern multi-storey depots will eventually be constructed as part of the redevelopment plan. Together, they will have the capacity to accommodate up to 550 buses, nearly double the current capacity. The new facilities will also include commercial spaces on upper floors to optimise land use.
A BEST official said, “The two new permanent, multi-storey depots will together accommodate up to 550 buses – Depot 1 on 8602 sq.m and Depot 2 on 10,544 sq.m (both up to 275 buses). Commercial space will be built on the upper floors. Once the new depot turns operational, the temporary site will be fully given to DRP/SRA. In case of a missed deadline, there will be a penalty levied on the developer as per the development agreement signed in June 2024.”
Supporting the move, Ramakant Gupta, BEST committee member and president of Dharavi Bachao Andolan, said, “We have given approval for the transfer of land, as there are lots of stakes involved. The project will not move ahead if the depot land is not handed over, and being a member of the Dharavi panel, we are waiting for the project to begin.”
Meanwhile, committee member Dr Nitin Nandgaonkar sought greater clarity on the proposal, stating, “I have asked the BEST administration to provide details of how much land will be given to the Dharavi redevelopment team, what the BEST will get in return, where the location of the temporary depot is and what all problems will be faced by BEST bus parking.”
Source: Mid-day
