City-based realtor bags Guj govt's slum redevelopment project

Ahmedabad-based real estate developer bSafal Group is one of the first in the state to have bagged a slum redevelopment project from the Gujarat government. Under the project, bSafal Group would be constructing pucca houses for around 850 families in Ahmedabad. The state government had announced a rehabilitation and redevelopment of slums policy in 2010 that is designed for resettlement of dwellers, under the guidelines of which bSAFAL Group would be developing five slum areas.

"A better life for every underprivileged person, a city rid of slums for the general public and most importantly a brighter future for the next generation of people below the poverty line; these are the objectives that drive us to make this vision a reality. We, at bSafal, also welcome support and contributions of any kind from fellow corporate houses. We also encourage them to start similar initiatives on their own," said Rajesh Brahmbhatt, managing director, bSafal Group about the project.

While so far the real estate group had been providing quality housing to millions in Ahmedabad and around, bSafal Group has bagged its first such slum redevelopment project wherein each of the 850 families will be provided with a pucca house having all the basic amenities such as sanitation and water.

"bSafal intends to go the extra mile in order to realise the government’s vision of a Gujarat wherein everybody has a right to a quality life with good, clean, legally approved homes that bring stability, good health and happiness to all their residents. It has drawn up plans to replace slums with proper housing and rehabilitate the slum dwellers absolutely free of cost as per the policy and guidelines," said Brahmbhatt.

As part of this initiative, bSafal has already received primary permission for five projects from the government. Two of these projects are in Maninagar/Khokhra and one each will be taken up in Ambawadi, Sabarmati and Vasna areas. Also, more projects are at an advanced stage of approvals.

"Slums are concern for dwellers as well as residents. Not only are they an eyesore but they also present problems of sanitation and various other legal issues. More than the general public, it is the people who have to live in these slums that are the most severely affected. In view of this, the policy initiative by the government really holds significance," he added.