Omkar Realtors gets consent to redevelop 'Dhobi Ghat' slums

Mumbai's heritage washing zone and the world's largest open-air laundry, popularly known as 'Dhobi Ghat', is set to become slum-free as Omkar Realtors & Developers plans its redevelopment.
"Nearly 5,000 slum tenements housing over 25,000 dhobi community members residing in surrounding slums of Dhobi Ghat have voluntarily come forward to make this site slum-free. Out of this 4,000 families (approx 20,000 residents), have provided their consent for redevelopment under SRA scheme to Omkar Realtors & Developers, Mumbai's leading SRA developer, a statement issued here said.
The momentous SRA project today commenced with a record voluntary handover and razing of 800 slum houses located near the washing pens.

Omkar is also expecting that 1,000 slum tenement owners out of the 5,000-figure during course of time would voluntarily come forward for the redevelopment initiative.
However, this block of 1,000 tenements have currently no link to existing redevelopment initiative of Omkar, the release said.
According to Omkar's executive director Kaushik More, "Such a historic voluntary handover and razing of slum houses in Mumbai augurs well for city's redevelopment agenda and speedier implementation of redevelopment at Dhobi Ghat in record time."
More further stated that the redevelopment initiative under SRA scheme would not affect or hamper the heritage site of the dhobi ghat, holding 731 washing pens and flogging stones and a popular tourist destination.

"The stones washing area will remain untouched and the dhobi community will conduct their routine activities without any disruption," it said.