New highrises could lay city low

MUMBAI: In the bylanes of Matunga, in the sprawling slums of Tardeo and within the vast mill compounds around Worli, a metamorphosis of unparalleled proportions is unfolding. Monstrous cranes and skeletal structures dot the skyline as builders, on a skyscraper construction spree, seem compelled to prove that ‘mine is bigger than yours’.
“Never before has the island city seen this type of development,’’ said Pranay Vakil, chief executive officer of Knight Frank, a global property consultant.The construction spurt has largely been set off by a state government policy to redevelop slums and dilapidated buildings. Under the scheme, developers will construct free, new houses for slum dwellers and residents of decrepit buildings.
In return, the developer is allowed to build higher than usual and sell the flats to cross-subsidise the social housing. The profits are substantial. But town planners and housing experts are worried that the rampant construction in the already congested 68.7-sq-km island-city will add an unbearable load to the civic infrastructure. Mr Vakil said that about five million sq feet of new residential and commercial space will become available in the next four or five years.
A major portion of this will be in the four-sq-km area around Worli. Shiv Sainik leader Pramod Navalkar, who lives in Thakurdwar, is among those concerned by the shape the city taking. Already, he gets water for minutes each day. He expects the situation to get worse with plans in nearby Girgaum to tear down the Pimpalwadi chawls to construct two 40-storeyed residential towers. Girgaum, with its dilapidated buildings and narrow lanes, is among the most clogged areas of city.
The project is currently embroiled in litigation, but local residents are worried. “If this construction frenzy does not stop, even dog may not find space to wag its tail,’’ Mr Navalkar said. “The city is dying vested interests very keen on killing it.’’ Many share his pessimism. “One is against development. But it should be preceded by augmenting the infrastructure. is very difficult to defend this kind of indiscriminate development,’’ said housing expert Chandrashekhar Prabhu.
Agreed former Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority commissioner Dev Mehta, “The government policy on redevelopment of slums and cessed buildings has worsened the situation. infrastructure can’t cope up with the demand.’’