Groundbreaking for Rama Bai Ambedkar Nagar redevelopment scheduled

The redevelopment has gained urgency due to the proposed expansion of the Eastern Freeway corridor from Ghatkopar to Thane, which required the displacement of certain slum clusters in Rama Bai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar. The MMRDA took responsibility for rehabilitating these residents and later decided to redevelop around 14,000 slum units across the two areas.

Tenders were invited  for the first phase—covering 4,045 tenements—in May. Four companies — B.G. Shirke Construction Technology Pvt. Ltd., Montocarlo Ltd., NCC Ltd., and J Kumar Infrastructure Ltd. — submitted bids. B.G. Shirke Construction emerged as the lowest bidder and has now been formally awarded the contract, with the work order already issued.

Spread over 31.82 hectares, the redevelopment will be executed in four clusters, with the first phase covering 6.95 hectares and providing 4,345 permanent houses. Around 4,500 families will be temporarily relocated to facilitate construction, while a total of 16,675 residents across the two areas have been deemed eligible for rehabilitation.

Under this project, eligible slum dwellers will be provided with a one bedroom, hall and kitchen (1 BHK) measuring 300 sqft free of cost. Out of the total 16,675 slum dwellers, the eligibility of 10,000 slum dwellers has been determined and individual development agreements have been signed with 9,550 slum dwellers. The plan is to not limit the project to just housing development, but a commercial hub.

In the first phase, it is proposed to rehabilitate 4,053 slum dwellers. Out of 4,053 slum dwellers in the first phase, 3,645 slum dwellers were given two years’ advance rent of Rs.137.50 crore. The cost of construction of rehabilitation buildings is estimated to be Rs. 1,299 crore (excluding GST). Out of 31.82 hectare, 15.63 hectare belongs to the government and 17.65 hectare is private. Out of the government land in the said project, Maharashtra government owns 8.46 hectare area.

The Slum Redevelopment Authority will be carrying out the project as a joint venture between Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC), MMRDA, City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

In its meeting on December 12, 2023, the MMRDA approved the development of Mata Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and Kamaraj Nagar slum rehabilitation scheme to be implemented in a joint partnership basis with the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. The SRA will be the planning authority while the MMRDA is the developer.

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