The relocation process in Dharavi is entering a more stringent phase, with residents who delay handing over their premises facing lower transit rent and the loss of a one-time shifting allowance. The revised terms come as the redevelopment agency steps up action in identified pockets to facilitate the next stage of the project.
Adani Navbharat Developers Pvt Ltd, the special purpose vehicle implementing the Dharavi redevelopment project, has revised the rental support applicable to residents who do not vacate within the stipulated period.
Under the revised terms, eligible ground-floor residents will receive Rs 15,000 a month, down from Rs 18,000, while those occupying upper-floor units will receive Rs 12,000, compared with Rs 15,000 earlier. For commercial establishments, the transit rent has been reduced to Rs 145 per sq ft from Rs 175 per sq ft.
Residents who deliberately delay vacating their premises will also not be eligible for the one-time shifting allowance, according to the developer. The company has further indicated that rental or transit accommodation benefits could be affected in cases where residents continue to obstruct the relocation process under applicable regulations.
The latest notices cover Sector 6, including Ganpat Nagar, Meghwadi and Azad Nagar. The developer has referred to provisions of the Maharashtra Slum Areas Act, 1971 and DCPR 2034 in connection with the action being taken to secure vacant possession.
The enforcement measures have already resulted in movement from some properties. Four households in Ganpat Nagar were forcibly evicted, while 12 households reportedly vacated voluntarily, according to the report.
However, the revised rental terms have raised concerns among some residents over the cost of finding accommodation nearby. Residents have pointed to rental rates in surrounding areas, with one-room-kitchen homes in Mahim reportedly costing around Rs 35,000 a month, significantly above the revised residential transit rent.
The developer has maintained that delays by individual households could affect the wider redevelopment schedule and that the project needs to progress to enable rehabilitation and other benefits for Dharavi residents.
Source: Times of India
