Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment kicks off

Entire project aims to replace about 250 dilapidated buildings with 17 new towers, wide roads and modern infrastructure

The first phase, covering sub-clusters 1 &3 of the Bhendi Bazaar Redevelopment Project, which is coined as the Smart City project in this densely-populated locality of south Mumbai, is expected to be complete by 2019. The project, which is being developed by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), covers 16.5 acres of land with more than 250 decrepit buildings, 3,200 families and 1,250 shops. Residences will get minimum 350 sq ft carpet area and shops will get the space equivalent to the current holding area.

About 250 dilapidated buildings in Bhendi Bazaar will be replaced with 17 new towers with wide roads, modern infrastructure, more open spaces and highly visible commercial areas. Of these, two rehab towers of 30 storeys each, whose construction is currently underway, will house 600 families and 120 businesses. In all, 13 towers will rehabilitate residential tenants and businesses, while four are proposed for free sale.

In order to avoid the inconvnience to the residential tenants, a housing complex of 950 units providing temporary accomodation has been built at Anjeerwadi (Mazgaon). Besides, the Trust has availed 1,100 transit units from the state-run MHADA in Sewri and another 450 transit homes ib Sion. More than 1,700 families have already been shifted to these transit homes. About 450 of the total 1,250 commercial units have been vacated.

The project, which entails a total investment of Rs 4,000 crore, is closely monitored by the state Chief Minister Fadnavis in his War Room.

SBUT CEO Abbas Master told Business Standard, ''Of the nine self-sustained sub-clusters, construction on sub-clusters 1 and 3 has started and work on other sub-clusters will start soon in phases. Overall, more than 70 dilapidated buildings have been demolished and over 1,700 families and 450 businesses have been vacated from Bhendi Bazaar. We plan to complete the first phase of the project within three years. The entire project will be completed in eight years.'' Ten more buildings have been identified for demolition.

''The creation of smart infrastructure and availability of technology at their disposal will infuse growth and open new avenues for the businesses in the area,'' Master said and informed that the project last week received 'Smart City Project 2016' award.

More importantly, the Trust has received more than 87 per cent of owner consent and got the overall approval on Master Layout along with approval for phase-wise construction. Over 80 per cent certification from the state run Maharashtra Housing & Area Development Authority (MHADA) has been completed. The Trust is in possession of the crucial environment clearance from the union ministry of environment and forests.