Bhendi Bazaar revamp

Congested, creaking Bhendi Bazaar is on its way to shedding its grey, dreary exterior and taking on a spanking new Rs 2,000-crore look. On Friday, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan approved the city’s largest cluster redevelopment project. The project was approved by the BMC in early April. Chawls will give way to high-rises and dusty lanes will be widened to at least 50 feet. Spread across 16.5 acres, the redevelopment will re-house 25,000 people and relocate 1,200 commercial establishments. The scheme is being undertaken by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) on a no-profit basis. Initiated by Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohras, it is expected to take five years to complete. Burhanuddin’s son, Shahzada Dr Qaidjoher Bhaisaheb Ezzuddin, is monitoring progress. T C Benjamin, urban development secretary, said the redevelopment could change the face of not just Bhendi Bazaar, but south Mumbai. “A densely populated area with few amenities will be transformed into a modern urban area,’’ Benjamin said. The project has had its share of glitches. There was existing litigation between tenants and landlords. In 2010, the high-power committee rejected the in-principle approval for want of 70% consent from residents. A change of chief ministers further delayed final approval. “We now have consent of over 70% of the residents,” said Murtuza Ali Rajkotwala, who is the liaison with tenants for the developers. “Mhada is certifying tenancies.” The SBUT has purchased a two-acre plot in Mazgaon and has already shifted some 1,000 families into three transit buildings. Abdeali Bhanpurawala, SBUT secretary, said, “More than 70% of the residents now live in flats of less than 300 square feet in century-old buildings that are dilapidated. The common toilets are in bad shape. One cannot live all their lives in such pathetic conditions. The cluster scheme offers the best way to redevelop the locality and improve living standards.” The trust will re-house free of cost the existing residents in flats that are at least 350 sq ft in size. Around 70% of the residents hail from the Dawoodi Bohra community. Shaikh Rassiwala, chief project architect, said the six mosques in the area will be retained. “We will provide world-class amenities, such as solar systems, rainwater harvesting and energy-generating plants that use waste,’’ Rassiwala said. The trust will recover costs by building four towers with malls, parking and flats that will be sold at market rates.