Cluster redevelopment for Mumbai suburbs, but will it succeed?

In 2008, the state government unveiled the Cluster Redevelopment Scheme for the island city.

The state government in its new Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR), extended the Cluster Redevelopment Scheme to the suburbs, but its success remains in question since this policy has been a slow starter in the island city since the last decade.

The cluster development scheme has not worked out very well in the island city (HT Photo)

While the cluster redevelopment scheme promises a holistic revamp of the area and has been praised, until now just two schemes in the city have hit the ground, since it was launched in 2008.

In addition, unlike the island city where a minimum required area of 4000 square metres is required to undertake the scheme, in the suburbs a minimum area of 10,000 square metres is needed.

According to Kailash Agarwal, chairman, Avighna India Limited which was the first firm to undertake cluster redevelopment covering 6.75 acres in Lalbaug, the scheme is still riddled with hurdles. “This requires lot of patience and finance and a handful of tenants can derail the scheme. With the current market slump, it is very difficult for any developer to undertake an area of 10,000 square metres for redevelopment and obtain the consent of hundreds of flat owners living there,” he said.

“We cannot fast track this scheme if the tenants continue to stay put in these dangerous structures,” said Yusuf Patanwala, who represents the Saifee Trust.

In 2008, the State Government unveiled the Cluster Redevelopment Scheme for the island city to ensure a holistic revamp of the belt with ample infrastructure. Any developer covering an area of a minimum of 1 acre (4000 square metres) will get a floor space index of 4 under this scheme. In the suburbs, the plot area is required to be 2.5 acres (10,000 square metres). The aim of the scheme was to revamp an entire belt with improved infrastructure and give it a new lease of life unlike individual structures which went for redevelopment.

According to the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association, the cluster scheme is very difficult to implement in the suburbs. “This will not be successful as getting the disputes in one society resolved is a Herculean task and here we are talking about getting multiple societies together. With at least one decade to revamp one individual society, imagine the time it will take for multiple societies to get on a single platform,” said Ramesh Prabhu, Chairman, MSWA.