After many failed attempts over the past decade, Bhendi Bazaar, one of the busiest business-cum-residential districts of the city, is taking a big leap into the future in what’s said to be the nation’s largest cluster redevelopment project.
The 125-year-old neighbourhood spanning 16.5-acres, not very far from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, is already home to two newly developed towers of 36 and 41 floors, which are opening a new world of modern living for the families there. Around 610 of the over 3,200 families and 128 of the over 1,250 businesses have moved in to the new buildings, all for free.
The families, who were living in 80-sq.ft. dilapidated homes, are moving into 350-sq.ft. modern apartments.
The ambitious cluster redevelopment programme is funded by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust, established by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the former spiritual head of the Bohri Muslim community, who are the vast majority of the residents and tenants of the area.
The two towers have come up on the plot where 13 dilapidated buildings stood, and form part of the 13 towers to be developed at the site.
“The new neighbourhood will meet the present and future socio-economic needs of diverse communities living and working in the area,” Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust secretary Abdeali Bhanpurawala said.
The redevelopment comprises 16.5 acres of land with more than 250 decrepit buildings, 3,200 families and 1,250 shops, all of which will be incorporated into a state-of-the-art sustainable development model with wider roads, modern infrastructure, ample open spaces and highly visible commercial areas.
The State planned to redevelop the area almost a decade ago, but work was marred by slow pace.
The project involves razing 250 mostly dilapidated medium-rise structures and building 13 high-rise towers in their place. These towers will house existing commercial and residential tenants, who will be given ownership of their new apartments.
The project aims to add greenery, public spaces and glitzy shopping options to the 125-year-old market district, a holdover from the colonial days.
Originally built to accommodate migrant labourers working in the harbour, more recently Bhendi Bazaar has attracted low-income families, drawn by State-controlled rents that have been frozen for decades.
In 2009, the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin made the drastic proposal to demolish the 16.5-acre district, with the exception of its holy sites, and build anew.
It seemed an ambitious undertaking, but got the backing of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made it a flagship smart city project in July 2015.
The two completed towers have been designed to include a recreational area with gardens and a playground and amenities like prayer room, multi-purpose hall, activity rooms, and separate gymnasium rooms for women and men. The commercial spaces are housed on the ground, first and second floors.