C WARD DEVELOPMENT

Based on the Expression of Interest by the Special Project Dept of the Govt of Maharashtra, RoMF has submitted its interest in developing 233 acres of area in the Kalbadevi, Chirabazar area called the C3 and C4 Wards of C ward of Mumbai on the 15th November 2007. This redevelopment is suggested for 1777 old buildings (out of a total of 2202 buildings). Till date no decision has been taken on the same, which needs to be expedited. Technical committee needs to be appointed which could study the proposals and recommend State Government for allotment of pilot project, along with necessary changes in law and regulations to mitigate the issues of redevelopment in a dense and crowded area. This entire process is open and transparent and is a part of Government’s policy.

Stakeholder approval:

Our proposal creates win-win situation for all stakeholders

• Shared our vision with thousands of affected people in three massive public meetings attended by over 10000 people each, thus enjoying good rapport with locals
• All street level, local, cultural social level leaders have been shown the presentation.
• Supported by MLAs of all political parties
• Also presentations have been made at various levels of Bureaucracy at local, state and central level
• Sharing equity participation with every tenant, landlord, shopkeeper, trader and office owner
• MOU signed with World’s largest organisation of planners, architects, Engineers CTBUH (Council on Tall Buildings & Urban Habitat) for technical knowledge and support
• Collaboration with ARUP Consultants for Master Planning which would be environment friendly and with over 70% open ground area and emphasising on creating world class Infrastructure
• Landlords to benefit in a big way by sharing in joint development
• olutions to benefit the local Mumbaikars
• Creating a World class Mumbai, taking care of all sections of society

Summary:

Government needs to move with alacrity to save the lives of over 20 lakh people. Already 700 people have died in the past and this monsoon there have been 30 deaths in 6 collapses. The people are desperate for solutions and will support and vote for any government or party which can create lasting solutions for them. Already people have supported RoMF’s plan in a very big way. This pilot project would be historical for the over 20 lakh people and they would be eternally grateful to the person / party / government which makes it a reality.The area consists of the highest concentration of old and dilapidated buildings in the city.

Some of the defining characteristics of the area covering 212 acres are as below:

• The area houses 2200 buildings of which approximately 1700 buildings are cessed buildings.
• The infrastructure of the area is more than a century old. The roads were designed for a time when the motor car had not been invented. The sewage and water pipelines are very old and strained.
• Most of the buildings are surviving on props and in danger of falling down in the next decade.
• The area has a night to day time population ration of 1:5 with a resident population of around 1 lac people.
• The area has very high commercial activity with numerous cloth markets and other trades like paper and wedding cards, metals and gold and jewellery.

The dominant thinking guiding ROMF's approach is the need for not just consider the redevelopment of an individual building or a group of buildings but to consider holistic development which also accounts for improvements in the larger neighbourhood and significant improvements in the infrastructure.