The Bhendi Bazaar Redevelopment Project in South Mumbai has reportedly finished the first phase of its development. This ambitious project plans to rehabilitate over 20,000 people across 250 different dilapidated buildings.
The Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust conducted the first phase of the project (non-profit) and has finished two high-rise structures covering more than 610 homes along with 128 commercial premises.
The construction of the 36 and 41 storey towers began in 2016 and has been completed in a span of 45 months. It’s worth mentioning that this is one of the first redevelopment projects conducted under the state’s cluster redevelopment policy of 2009.
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“Residents had started to shift to the new premises a few months ago. However, the shifting process was put on hold given the announcement of lockdown following the Covid19 outbreak and was resumed once the regulations were relaxed,” a spokesperson for the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust said.
“As per our aim to complete the entire project simultaneously and bring the people of Bhendi Bazaar back to their new homes and shops at the earliest. Work on other sectors is also progressing well. We plan to complete the entire next phase of the project by 2025,” the spokesperson added.
The aim of the project is to reduce congestion in key areas of southern Mumbai such as Mohammed Ali Road, Pydhonie, and Nagpada which experience a high frequency of vehicles on a regular day. In addition to the widening of roads, some infrastructure will also be revamped around these areas.
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Around 80 per cent of the buildings that are on the path of the road widening and other infrastructure works are said to be worn out or declared unfit for living by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
It is further said that some of the buildings/chawls in the region may even be nearly 150 years old. Needless to say, these establishments witness accidents when the monsoons arrive.
This particular redevelopment project covers a total of 16.5 acres of land space including 250 dilapidated buildings consisting of 3,200 families and 1,250 shops.
While around 90 per cent or 610 of the residents were tenants for decades in Bhendi Bazaar, they are now proud owners of the flats as part of the new project.
Qutub Mandviwala, Planner and architect of the project said, “Being India’s largest cluster redevelopment project till date, the project offers hopes of better life for millions living in awful conditions, and provides a blueprint for other future urban renewal projects across the country.”
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