The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has decided to undertake the redevelopment of the 6.23-acre Umarkhadi complex in Byculla, South Mumbai, by appointing its own contractor through a tendering process.
The Mumbai Building Repair and Redevelopment Board had earlier considered redeveloping the area under the Construction and Development (C&D) agency model, similar to the approach proposed for Motilal Nagar. However, the board has now opted to carry out the project independently. The redevelopment will be executed in two phases, with a proposal covering 36 buildings in the first phase recently submitted to the state Housing Department for approval.
MHADA has increasingly been adopting cluster redevelopment to accelerate the reconstruction of cessed buildings and MHADA colonies. The authority has taken up 11 cluster redevelopment projects covering nearly 900 acres across Mumbai, including the major Kamathipura redevelopment.
Following its decision to undertake cluster redevelopment in Kamathipura, the Repair and Redevelopment Board decided a few months ago to adopt a similar approach for Umarkhadi. A senior board official confirmed that a detailed proposal has now been prepared and forwarded to the Housing Department.
The board had examined both the C&D model and direct redevelopment options. Officials noted that undertaking the project independently could provide MHADA with more surplus housing and higher revenue. Although financial considerations had initially made the C&D model preferable, the board has now rejected that option in favour of direct redevelopment.
The Umarkhadi cluster comprises 81 buildings spread across 6.23 acres, including nine PMGP buildings along with cessed and private structures. Collectively, these buildings contain 1,928 residential and 268 non-residential units.
While the original plan envisaged redevelopment of all 81 buildings and rehabilitation of around 2,000 residents, the proposal currently submitted focuses on 36 buildings in the first phase. The remaining structures will be taken up during the second phase.
Officials said further action on the first phase will begin once government approval is received. MHADA is also preparing a separate proposal for the second phase.
Source: Loksatta
