Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Oct 30: Residents of buildings in Dharavi will be provided rehabilitation flats measuring 500 sq ft under the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP), following a final notification issued by the Maharashtra Urban Development Department on Tuesday.

The notification finalises the rehabilitation area for residents of existing buildings, including approximately 10,000 tenements in largely privately owned buildings and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) estate properties. Another category of chawls accounts for around 10,000 additional tenements.

According to the notification, issued under Regulation 33(9) A of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations, 2034, every eligible occupant will be provided a minimum fixed carpet area of 300 sq ft (27.88 sq metres) and a maximum area equivalent to the space occupied in the old building, up to 70 sq metres, free of cost. Construction costs will be applicable for any area exceeding 70 sq metres.

The decision follows a review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, during which the Dharavi Redevelopment Project was asked to submit a proposal to the state government seeking a minimum rehabilitation carpet area of 500 sq ft, along with supporting reasons.

Following consideration of the proposal, the government decided to provide eligible residents with a minimum carpet area of 300 sq ft, along with an additional 35 per cent fungible area. This will effectively translate into rehabilitation flats measuring around 500 sq ft.

The final notification also clarifies that the additional fungible area will be exclusively available to the rehabilitation component and cannot be extended to the sale component of the redevelopment project.