Vile Parle- Urban Design Studio- KRVIA SEM 7

urban design neighbourhood report

MEMBERS

VII SEM

Vile Parle (East)

1805 1828 1834 1835 1840

Zoya Ajani Eeshan Inamdar Ananya Joshi Anushri Joshi Aakriti Khanna

contents

1. An Introduction to Vile Parle 1.1 Brief History 1.2 Timeline & Evolution Maps 1.2.1 Initial Settling 1.2.2 Land Organisation 1.2.3 Development of Amenities

2. Navigating through Vile Parle 2.1 Evolution of Roads 2.2 Mobility

​

2.3 Streetscape

​

2.4 Water supply and Drainage

​

​ 3. Public spaces and institutions​ 3.1 Amenities Maps

​

3.2 Institutions - Cultural and Recreational​

4. Influx of Floating Population ​

5. Housing​ 5.1 Planning Process ​ 5.2 Clusters ​ 5.2.1 Gaothan ​ 5.2.2 Central area ​ 5.2.3 Southern area ​

6. Conclusion

7. Bibliography

8. Appendix​

1. an introduction to vile parle

1.1 brief history Vile Parle is a suburb in the western part of Mumbai.

Although as a village its existence is documented way before the 19th century, its journey as a thriving suburb started when the business class formally started settling and monetizing the land.

Over the years it has been occupied by people f rom different parts of the country and today is famous for its numerous cultural and educational institutions as well as the market while being largely residential in nature.

The report attempts to observe, investigate and analyse its evolution f rom an agricultural hamlet to the current suburb of social signif icance, the factors that contributed to this and map out the current and future trajectories as well by means of specif ic lenses.

1.2 timeline 1300

Shilahar kings​

1327

Portuguese- f ishing, agricultural hamlets, very limited businesses, trade​

Mubarak Shah, Gujarat​

1347

1665

Nagardev, Bhimdev- under Balaji ShindeIdla, Padla and few other villages​

British captured Sashti​

1670

1672

Traders f rom Gujarat arrived​

Marathas​

1739

British​

till

1818

1842​

population comprised of East Indians, Mahars, Konkani Muslims, Pathare Prabhu, Yajurvediya Brahmins​

1843​

had to make provisions for potable water by digging wells, prevent sea water flooding by building bunds- effort not quite successful hence, land further divided into smaller parts​

Salsette awarded to Nowrozji Jamshet- aim was to increase the population​​

Padla and Irla bought by Wadias- Parsi ship builders​ British offered Rs. 4000 as annual pension to the Wadias- Wadias instead chose to have land(more prof itable)- they bought the landthe annual tax turned out to be Rs 4700hence had to pay the extra 700 to the British​

1861 Dhara Nirdharan Samiti​ Rs.8/acre- for paddy land at higher altitude, Rs.10/acre for bi-crop lands, Rs.11/acre for mango, guava, gardens​

1868

St. Xavier Church established on the west; St. Francis School started with 24 students​ population of the village around 2500-3000​

1845

Mahim bridge connecting Vandre and Salsette built- Padla- 200m, Irla- on the Ghodbunder Road​ ​

1853

Catholic church built by Jesuit Mission- before that, people used to pray at Saint Blaithe Church, Amboli- dead used to be buried at Amboli​

1867​ 12 April- Virar to Colaba Railway started dividing Vile Parle into west and East​ but no station between Bandra and Andherihence, did not help the growth of the villages​

on popular demand, separate priest appointedFather Sebastian e dart -1868 to 1884​

1881​

Chapel and Parish here were related to Diocesan Church-Our Lady of Egypt- 2500​ villagers used to pray at the chapel​

Krushnaji Agashe became clerk in Wadia’s off ice for 40 years. Agriculture produce of Parle estate was about Rs 8000 then​

Salsette History Land Development

1882​

Amenities

Anglo- Portuguese School- started by Christian farmers with 15 students​

Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

1.2.1 initial settling

older timber church- people used to go to Kalina-Marol church near Santacruz or to Amboli- no proper road- follow cart tracks​

evolution maps

TEJPAL LAND

TEJPAL LAND

upto 1897

1897 Plague- rich merchants fled to SalsetteMerchant Gokuldas Tejpal bought big tracts of land in padla​

1900​ Paranjapes started the Bank Silver Company in the city but shortly shifted to Parle. Bought tracts of land f rom the proceeds f rom Wadia​

1907

1898​ Father Victor Dsouza started the f irst English school of the locality- before that had to go to Bandra​ evolution of the school - starting with 10 students (1898)- reached to around 700 students (1947)​

1906​ Vile Parle Railway Station constructed​ Rs.10,000 paid by Tejpal for the station- place for getting down construction material- for building the bungalow​

Shri Gokhale helps establish Rammandir​

1908​ 1910 Mor bungalow completed​

1912 Paranjape helps establish Parleshwar Mandir​ Juhu still an island​

1917 notices sent for recovery of the Building Assessment/ Non-agricultural assessment charge to the owners​ V.P. Boys and Girls Anglo-Vernacular School started in west by Master Chunilal. A debating society commenced by the students.​ Vile Parle population of 5000-6000.​ Gujaratis around 400-500​ Vile Parle Kelvani Mandal established​ Balmukund Punjabi bought estate on Mahant road. Known as Punjabi Chawl.​ Navrtrotsav started (west)​

Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

Mr. Padwal built small houses and 2 chawls on his land ( bought before 1900)​ A local board Marathi school started in one of the chawls​

1916 7 Jan-Parla Town Planning Scheme Associationby Vishnupant Paranjape​ Notif ied Area Committee decided to undertake Town Planning Scheme 1 (T.P.1). They called all the settlers affected by it on the station on 28 Feb 1916. The scheme was found to be poorly planned by the residents. So, they came together to form the Parle Town Planning Scheme Association that would suggest a better scheme and address the grievance of the citizens. Paranjape was made its head.​ March- Parle Residents association- meeting in Mor bungalow-under Gowardhandas Tejpal​ Appointment of Salsette Development Off icerlevying of Building Assessment Charge on new construction​ - improved local board marathi school​ - post office, positioning of post boxes​ - construction of gutters, correspondence for water supply​ - increase in police force, chowkies​ - drainage to be directed to the sea- not successful till 1980s​ - building pukka road at junction of scheme 1 and 2​ - new scheme no.7- people bought landsuggested that smaller lanes could be developed based on the Mahim scheme- all the lanes were named​ - sanitary committee​

1.2.2 land organisation

TEJPAL SCHEME

VILE PARLE KELVANI MANDAL

PARANJAPE LAND TEJPAL LAND

PARLA STATION

LOCAL BOARD MARATHI SCHOOL PADWAL LAND

upto 1917

1920 vile parle population around 5000​ Vishnupant Paranjape divided his properties with grids of roads and made plots of about 400sq.m and sold them in 1942. Schemes A and B were formed.​ Formation of Mumbai Suburban District- 84 villages beyond Bandra-(Santa Cruz to Dahisar and Kurla to Bhandup). Roads in the T.P.1 started getting constructed by government​ Lokmanya Tilak Smarak Fund Committee set up by young patriots and meeting held in Parleshwar Mandir. Not supported by other communities.​ Parla

Sarvjanik

Mandal established. First Ganeshotsav in Ram Mandir​

1922 Tilak Mandir established, ​ 2 plots of 800 sq. vaar bought in T.P.1 for the same​

1923 population was about 7479. As researched by Bapuji Mahadev Mahant​ First local magazine- Vishranti​ population increased due to this activity​ Scout Movement initiated by the Youth​ Lokmanya Seva Sangh established - cost of land 4 rupees per vaar​

1.2.3 development of amenities Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

1921 Parle Tilak Vidyalaya established in a meeting in Paradhi Bungalow.​ Smt Chandrabai Pardhi and Sonabai Rao started a women’s school that later merged with PTV​ From March 1921, Ambernath industrial zone added to the suburban district- a separate Collector appointed for this new district and Collector was given the rights of a Development Off icer to properly plan the roads, water, etc.- separate Commissioner appointed for Industrial Sector- Vile Parle Mamledar off ice and Talathi off ice situated in Andheri- while khot’s off ice was in Parle-​ The creation of the new district led to rapid development in terms of roads, water, traff ic, health, electricity, drainage, etc.- vile parle got a municipality in 1930​ Bhaidas Bhuta built many houses including his on Bajaj road- V.P. West on his land bought in 1915.​ Hanuman Mandir est. by N.M. Thosar, Shwetambar Jain Sangh by Nanavati.​ Rajaram Tukaram Padwal had land in Juhu.

Gave this to the Theosophical Co-op Housing Society.​

1924 Apart f rom Mor bungalow, Tejpals owned farmland towards the north east- Tejpals constructed a road there along with 5 perpendicular roads- and divided the land into plots of 400 -500 vars (3600-4500 sq.ft) and sold the plots​ -Notif ied area committee established in 1906.

But not a single road constructed till now. Only plans were drawn. Hence association had even appealed to the governor. ​ Hence, Suggestions made:-the municipal committees were nonfunctional and hence these bodies should be abolished and instead 12 separate municipalities ( Ghatkopar, Parla, etc.) be established which could fall under 4 local boards-let the residents take initiatives for development without interference of Mumbai municipality​ T.P.2 completed and published in the Gazette​ Restructuring of the Notif ied Area Committeeto answer the questions sent by Salsette municipality, local board and gram panchayats​

upto 1924

1925 Post office was started by Mahant’s efforts.

Justified as population of Santacruz- 6092; Andheri-6211; Vile Parle-7479. Both other places had a P.O.​

Electric supply starts for suburbs including Parle​

Shimga Sports events conducted in PTV school grounds from 1925-27.​

Madhavrao Damodar Shakha established​

Shridhar Vasudev Faatak Granthsangrahalay established​ Tamil, Hindi and Punjabi populations’ migration increased along with Maharashtrian and Gujarati.​ First regional newspaper - Sashti Samachar​ Sitabai Ganesh Pethe stri Shakha started​

1930 Vile Parle got a Municipality​

1926 Kolhatkar

Sanskrutik

1928 Vile Parle Sporting and Literary Associationcricket ground- shut down in 1952​

1929 Balmukund Punjabi ‘s business suffers.

Sells all his mortgaged estate to Brijmohan Laxminarayan Ruia. Ruia High School is set up.`​ Upanagar Sahitya Sammelan​ ​ Rajpuriya Bungalow on Nehru Road ​

Wagh Maternity Hospital, 1930​

Chauhan Family sets up Parle Products Factory​

Swadeshi exhibitions held in Tilak Mandir for next 3yrs.​

Sathaye’s United Ink and Varnish Company, Subhash Road​

Sirur balkashram (orphanage)​ First pipeline water supply to the neighbourhood after municipality formed​ A center set up on Ghodbandar (S.V) Road for Civil Disobedience Movement. In place of Golden Tobacco Company​

1933 Vile Parle Residents and Property Holders Association​ Pupil’s own school-Indira Gandhi​

1934 Gangabai Kunte established Mahalaxmi Mandir and settlements around it grew.​ Khadi Mandir​ Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

1932 Vile Parle population of 15,868​ marshy land on the west reclaimed to build the airport ( juhu)- increased the importance of the village​ Chandraseniya Prabhu Mandal started on 4th February 1932 by Shri Yashwantrao Thackeray after buying 600 vaar land and small house on Tejpal Scheme Road No.4 for Rs.1400​ First flight f rom the Mumbai airport to Karachi

by Tata.​

1935 Deshasth Rugvedi Brahman Sangh​ Vile Parle Gujrarati Mandal​ Large scale water supply f rom 2nd tansa water scheme in Vile Parle​ 50,000-gallon elevated reservoir on M.G road supplied water. Present day Water works control station. Supplied by 12’’ water main​

development of amenities

upto 1935

1936 First electric sub-station in Vile Parle​ Dwarkadhish Jain mandir, Madrasi Rammandir​ Gokalibai Highschool estblished (Vile Parle National School)​

1939 United Ink and Varnishing Company founded

by Vinayakrao and son Sharadrao Sathye.

Developed into a factory from small cottage industry on Subhash Road.​

1937 CKP mandal established​ Sanyasashram​

1938 Vile Parle Gujarati Mandal​ First Marathi preschool (Montessori) in parle established​

1940 1941 Vile Parle population of 38,493.​

1942 Tilak Mandir gives shelter to numerous underground freedom fighters in Quit India Movement​ Anand Talkies in the place of present day Suncity started by-Baburav Joshi, Chandorkar, Tiwary and Doshi​ St.Joseph Church repaired and reconstructed​

1948 PTV school first building​

1950 Ramabai Paranjape Balmandir​

Vile Parle (W) Seva Samaj established​ Bhaidas Bhuta was the chairman of Cotton Mill Workers Union f rom 1939-1943​ Krida Shakha established​ Akhil Hind Mahila Parishad​

1947 Tilak Mandir hosts Independence day celebrations with a crowd of more than 2000 people​ Sindhi migrations start.​ G.I.P.R ran a 4 coach train service between Andheri and Parle. This line was later decommissioned due to low demand​

1949 Sarla Sarjan school; Arts and Commerce College.​

Prarthana Samaj School​

development of amenities Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

1940

upto 1950

1951 Navasamaj society 1951​ Residents association dissolved- amount distributed to cemetery, tilak mandir and PTV school​

1953 PTV school becomes a 4 building complex​

1952 Nanavati Hospital was inaugurated by P.M. Nehru. (1951).​ Womens’ welfare unit started in Tilak Mandir, special training classes.​ Land was still till S.V Road. Sea beyond it​ Khadayata Chhatralay on Hanuman road​

G.M.E.S school of the Malayali Samaj​ Parleshwar Grihanirman sanstha, 1953​

1955 Paradhi family helped school buy land for future buildings​ Gohil Medical​

1956

1954 Mumbai Town Planning Act​ obligatory for local authorities to prepare the Development Plans for the areas administered by them within the stipulated period in addition to the preparation of Town Planning Schemes.​

1957

Gomantak Sangh and Hall started by Anant Raikar​

PTV building 5 as school​

The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act​

Vile Parle Recreation Centre on Dixit Road. Later called Dahanukar College Maidan​

1959 PTV’s Parle College started in building 5, gets an independent campus on Dixit road. Land bought from government for Rs 16000. Parle Commerce college started in same building.​ Madanlal Narsinghdas Rajpuriya Charitable Trust estb.​ First drainage and sewage system built.

Municipal vehicles and manual scavenging was prevalent before​

1958 Land bought and Gujarat Society constructed on Nehru road​ Maharashtra Co-Operative Societies Act​

1960 Shivanand society completed, 7215 sq.m, 1960​ 8020 sq vaar land bought f rom M.D Limaye, 2 lac donated by M.L Dahanukar to set up independent Commerce college.​ Sadhana society for settlers f rom Karachi.

mostly

Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

development of amenities

maharashtrian

upto 1960

1961 Verma tailors sets shop,(Radhesham Terpuria from Rajasthan)​ Nandkumar society on nanda patkar road, 1021sq.m plot​

1963 Shubhada society, Tejpal road 5 Utkarsh Mandal started by youth​

1966 Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act​ Devrukhe Brahman Mandal​ Increasing population led to pedestrian and vehicular traffic that called for systematic arrangement of roads​

1968 900mm dia main laid from reservoir along squatters colony road, highway upto Nehru Road. It split with 1 branch down Nehru road.

750mm other arm ran down highway, entered Parle at Shraddhanand road. Then it ran along Shraddhanand road, Gokhale road Tejpal road before going to S.V road​ First municipal water reservoir for K ward at Veravali near Mahakali caves designated as Veravali Low level reservoir 1 (50,00,000 gallon) at 200 ft above MSL​

1979 Disha Karnabadhir Vidyalaya established​

Religious Educational Demographic change

8 buildings of Hanuman Ramanand Society completed; Sujeevan society completed​

1965

Vile parle Malayali Samaj in Shantikunj on Prarthana Samaj Road​ Kartikeya hsg soc. on hanuman road​ Ayurvedic centre on Gujarat society road​ Dixit road municipal school, 1965​ ​ 1967 Prachi Society, Shahaji Raje marg​ Bhaidas Bhuta School was established in his name on east side; Airport colony high school and jr college​ Sharad Vinayak Sathaye Vaidyakeeya Kendra​ Jayantilal Chauhan starst Bisleri brand with Italian businessperson Felice Bisleri​

1970 N.B Thakkar auditorium commenced​

1971

1974

Mumbai Mata Bal Sangopan Sanstha opened

by Shri Usgaonkar’s efforts​

Cultural

Nonferrous alloy foundry by Lalchand Hiralal Agarwal ​

Amendment to Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act​

1977

Amenities

Vile parle mahila sangh school​

Maharashtra Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance And Redevelopment) Act​

Decent Chemist, Shyamkamal, Agarwal market​

Land Development

Vispute Medical, Hanuman road​

1972

SAKHI- womens’ mandal started by Smt Kunda Barve​

Salsette History

1962

1973

1975 Janta Grahak Mahasangh​

1978 Veravali 2 reservoir with 90,00,000 gallons capacity constructed. 1200 mm mains laid along Mahakali junction Sahar road, Shahaji Raje Marg, M.G road till Hanuman road, onwards Tejpal road till Gokhale road junction. This main connected to older 750mm main f rom Veravali 1​

development of amenities

upto 1980

1982

P.T.V English Medium school commenced in an independent building​ Prathamesh Kala Kendra starts in Bhide Bungalow​

1985

Slum Upgrading Programme

1987

P.V Bhagwat Guntavanuk Prabodhan Kendra established by P. Limye​ Mrunalini Kale Balsangopan Kendra​

SRA

scheme

started

by

1990

Maharashtra Government​

Hridayesh Arts started on 26th October, 1990​ Old 900mm mains f rom highway corroded, replaced with new 1200mm one along Shubhash road, Hanuman road, Sant Janabai road upto Dixit road

Kalbaug Apanga Uttung

1994

Punarvasan Kendra on 29th January, Sanskrutik Parivar started on November,

estd 1994​ 5th 1994​

1995

Slum Rehabilitation Scheme- statewide Slum Rehabilitation Authority set up for overseeing, coordinating and approving these schemes.​

1998

Suvidha Medical, Nehru Road

1999

Starlight foundation Computer Vibhag / Durgadevi Saraf Computer Center on 31st March, 1999​ BMC starts concretizing roads in locality​

2002

Aastha ‘Ray of Hope’ Spastic Child Center started on 16th January, 2002​

2005

Salsette History Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

Establishment of Yuva Manch​ Kirtan Vidyalaya​

2009

Construction of skywalk f rom Parla West station​

1984

SOBTI for senior citizens starts conducting events across the locality started on 18th December, 1984​ Majestic gappa started by Tilak Mandir

1986

Mrunalini Kale Balsangopan Kendra​ The Alliance

1988

Janseva Samiti started by Mohan Apte on 18th March, 1988​ Vijay Merchant Apang Punarvasan Sanstha​

1991

Privatization of Slum Rehabilitation Slum Redevelopment Scheme

1992

Kshatriya Kumavat Vikas established by Verma tailors’ Terpuria​ Parle Eye Hospital, Nehru Road

Sanghatana Radhesham

Rambhau Barve’s efforts get Savarkar Seva Kendra its own building near Shaan Cinemas​ Gujarat Society opens Naveenchandra Popatlal Kapadia Vidyamandir​

1996

Acharya Atre Katta started on 9th March, 1996 ​

1997

Prabodhankar Thakeray sports complex commenced by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Smarak Samiti​ Ananddham established on 6th December, 1997​

2000

Suncity Theatre built by Lokhandwala

2001

Smt Laxmiben Dharamshi Karsan Gala Eye Hospital on Malaviya Road​​

2004

Alpha college on Shahaji Raje Marg commenced

2008

ICSE school commences Vidyalaya​ Babasaheb Gawde Hospital​

at

Parle

development of amenities

Tilak

upto 2010

2011 Bigger diameter sewer line laid on Parleshwar road​ P.T.V New Marathi Medium integrated building constructed, secondary building demolished making a bigger ground.

ICSE school shifted to erstwhile Marathi medium primary section building​

2012 Slum Rehabilitation Authority in soup for allotting Vile Parle plot markedRecreation Ground (RG) to a builder

2013 2016 Parle biscuit factory’s Vile Parle Unit shuts down​

Bombay High Court asked the Government of Maharashtra to do away with the norm of obtaining consent f rom 75% of the slum dwellers. ​

2017 2018 Residents in Gaothans at Vile Parle East, Andheri East, Andheri West and Kurla West enraged after SRA proposes slum tag to gaothans, which could leave the gaothan open for exploitation by real estate developers

11,033 buildings in K-East ward (Vile Parle East, Andheri East and Jogeshwari East) that are over 30 years old to get BMC notices for structural audit

2019

2020 Western Railways start three month drive to remove over 1,100 encroachments along the tracks, including 35 between Vile Parle and Santacruz

Salsette History

COVI-19 pandemic hits Functioning of cultural, commercial and educational institutions comes to an indef inite pause due to lockdown

2021 Residents of Bamanwada gaothan near domestic airport in Vile Parle oppose BMC’s plan to widen a dead-end road f rom 4 to 6.1 metres Implementation of efforts to make streets wheelchair f riendly by handicapped Vile Parle resident

Land Development Amenities Cultural Religious Educational Demographic change

development of amenities

upto 2021

2. navigating through vile parle

2.1 evolution of roads

The roads transitioned from mud embankments of farmlands to prsent day concrete roads as part of the town planning scheme revisions.

- Roads in the Town Planning Scheme 1 were initiated through the efforts of the early settlers, and those of the persons working in the erstwhile Wadia estate.

- T.P. scheme 2 roads were completed in 1924 - Initially all roads were unmetalled and laid with Murum.​ - All roads were planned to be 9m wide.​ - Roads in T.P.2 were made 24ft wide and metaled by the mid 1950s​ - The area was lit by gas lamps till late 1930s, until electric supply lines were laid.​

2 3

4 1

1 4 5

2 3 7

5

6

The highway and and railway station are the primary points of access to the neighbourhood from other parts of the city

6

8 9

1924

1. MG road 2. Hanuman road 3. Mahant road 4. Parleshwar road 5. Tejpal road 6. Ram mandir road 7. Prarthana samaj road 8. Nehru road 9. Shraddhanand road

1950

1

1, 2- The Nehru road and Hanuman road (parallel roads marked in red connecting station to the highway) are the main thoroughfares in the locality

1. Western express highway 2. Sahar road 3. Shahji Raje road 4. Subhash road 5. Malviya road 6. Dixit road

3Shubhash road, running perpendicular to Hanuman road connects the Sahar Road at the Garware industrial Complex.

4, 5- The service road of the Western Express Highway and the station road (Tejpal Road) meet at the southern boundary of the neighbourhood to continue onwards to the south (as service road) and to the west (as Milan Subway) under the railway line.

2

3

1. Suncity flyover 2. Airport colony roads 3. Chakala road

1960

present day roads in the neighborhood

2021

6- Shahaji Raje Marg is a busy peripheral road that connects the eastwest bridge (Parle factory junction) to Koldongri industrial area on Sahar road in the North. It is a major link between Vile Parle and Andheri.

2.2 mobility

6

3

2

1

5

4

Bus stop Taxi stand

2.3 streetscapes The variety of socio cultural activities and public life can be understood by observing the street cross secTions all across the nieghborhood

1. hanuman road

bungalow

smaller road

residential + commercial

bungalow

footpath

spillovercommercial (eateries) steps used by + residential residents for hanging out

two way traffic

bus stop +footpath

1950

2021

The Hanuman road being one of the major roads of the neighborhood forms a vibrant street with many educational, cultural and religious institutions, eateries and acts as a gathering place during festivities.

1 2

1. hanuman road 2. tilak mandir road

2. lokmanya seva sangh (tilak mandir)

Mahalakshmi temple (partially open)

open space

lokmanya seva sangh

1950

Mahalakshmi temple with seating outside

light two way traffic

cow feeding

flowerseller

lokmanya seva sangh (libra tilak mandir creche, multipurpose halls) ground

parking

The lokmanya seva sangh is a multifunctional social institution thats lies in the heart of the neighborhood and house regular programs for artists, theatre and literary persons. It also houses one of the oldest and only library’s in the neighborhood.

2021

3. market road

residential wadi

commercial extension

residential wadi

residential + commercial

vendors + pedestrians

shop spillover + footpath

1950

heavy one way traffic

residents, office commuters, students

vendors + pedestrians residents, office commuters, students station footover bridge

residential + commercial shop spillover + footpath

2021

The market road is the busiest area in Vile Parle east because of the railway station and the bustling vegetable and garment shops that attract people from other suburbs as well 3

4

3.. market road 4. utkarsh mandal chowk

4. utkarsh mandal chowk

The Utkarsh mandal chowk with the seating along the street edges is a meeting point especially for the elderly

ary, )

2021 two lane road

common man statue utkarsh mandal chowk

two lane road

footpaths + seating

5. east indian settlement

narrow paved lane

cruxifix at junctions

empty plot with overgrown vegetation

East Indian house

narrow paved lane

East Indian house

2021

The current east indian settlement is a remnant of the previously larger padla gaothan. It is characterized by a network of extremely narrow, quiet pedestrian lanes with vernacular houses (having a portugese influence) on either sides. Street junctions have small sheltered cruxifixes.

5 6

5. east indian settlement 6. dayaldas road

6. dayaldas road

footpath

informal residential

open farmlands

jackals

1950

informal residential

This road runs along the eastern fringe of the decades, it led to a grassland present between the highway. Today it leads through a dense cluster of highway and was widened to create access for the

light two way traffic

informal rickshaw parking

nana nani park

service road

2021

neighborhood. in the earlier settled neighborhood and the informal settlements near the Milan bridge during the 2010s.

7. shraddhanand road

informal houses

peepal tree ducks

informal houses

LHS traffic

chawls

1950

women selling fish come from koliwadas, some are residents

peepal tree

seating provided by political party resident vendorsincreased during the pandemic

RHS traffic dharwala

seating

2021

This road led southwards from the station and markets towards the gaothan areas leading out of the neighborhood. originally having small scale settlements, it has become a site for numerous SRA developments today. This road has been connected to the highway in the south in the past decade.

7

7. shraddhanand road

east indian houses + newer settlements

farmland patches

1950

SRA

shop stalls informal residential

shop stalls medium two way traffic

work as small shopkeepers, house helps, labourers etc

Both the dayaldas road and the shradhanand road have been reclaimed by the citizens living along their banks in informal

informal residential

SRA + private

older tenants accomadated in SRA, newer affluent people bought flats in adjacent separate private buildings

2021 informally settlements.

2 3 8

4

5

12

10

11

1

7 9

6 Water Supply Drainage

2.4 water supply and drainage water supply lines 1935

Tansa Pipeline Main laid along Nehru Road that goes to Vile

2

1978

Outlet Main from Veravali II

3

1978

Water Main along Shahaji Raje Marg

4

1978

1

Water Main along MG Road upto Hanuman Road

1978

8

1978

7

Water Main along Hanuman Road and Tajpal Road upto

Water Supply enter Vile Parle East from Shraddhanand Road,

1978

6

Reservoir along Mahakali Sahar Junction Road

Water Main from First Reservoir for K- Ward laid along Highway

1990

5

Parle West from under tracks

Water Main along Subhash Road, Hanuman Road and Sant

Gokhale Road

then along Gokhale Road and Tejpal Road along S. V. Road

and connected to existing Water Main along Nehru Road

Janabai Road upto Dixit Road

drainage lines 1963

Sewage line laid in entire Vile Parle from East-West towards

1963

Trunk Sewer Line from Hanuman Road along Parleshwar Road

11

1963

Trunk Sewer Line from Nehru Road along Tejpal Road upto

12

1963

9 10

Railway Lines

upto Tejpal Road

junction of Parleshwar Road

Sewer water from all side roads collected on Tejpal Road

3. public spaces and institutions

3.1 amenities maps

INFERENCES •

The neighbourhood has temples and shrines of mainly Hindu and Jain communities

•

Other

than

that,

the

grounds

and roads are informally used as religious celebration venues during festivities, that has been absent during the pandemic.

•

Religious and social/ educational/ recreational activities often merge in these places

INFERENCES •

Most of the medical establishments are private run clinics and OPD centres. those marked are the prominent ones besides the small dental/

homeopath/

ayurved

centres functioning in rental spaces in residential areas.

•

Higher

facilities

like

multi-

speciality centres, hospitals etc are absent exccept a medium capacity hospital in the market.

The eastern and southern fringes are lacking in medical facilities due to preference to service industries and informal settlements.

INFERENCES

INFERENCES

•

•

The commercial and shopping establishments spread from the

owned and run by the Parle Tilak

station road to the Hanuman road as well as Nehru roads.

•

Vidyalaya Association •

The main streets perpendicular to

catering

•

to

the

large

All these formal institutions remain closed due to the pandemic. Their

Nehru and Hanuman roads have numerous restaurants and eateries

Many college/ school campuses are

grounds are lying vacant as well.

•

floating

The roads near and parallel to the station which had numerous

population of the place.

coaching centers see negligible

Establishments along the highway

footfall,

are mostly marble/ furniture and

congestion in these places.

greatly

reducing

the

plywood shops.

INFERENCES

INFERENCES

•

•

•

Most of the banking facilities are

were planned and under the aegis

roads that join the railway station

of educational institutions or as a

road to the highway.

part of T.P. schemes. Hence majorly

Smaller atms and forex centres are located on arterial roads as well

•

Most of the grounds and parks

along the Nehru and Hanuman

found in the historic centre.

•

Southern parts have lesser banking facilities

The later developed areas do not have these open spaces.

•

The close knit gaothan in the south also expanded with slums or SRA and development projects, accounting for lack of open spaces there.

3.2 institutions- cultural and recreational Most of the organised recreation and community facilities are located in the northern and central parts of the neighbourhood​.

tilak mandir

- Established in the year 1923 in the memory of Bal Gangadhar Tilakfreedom fighter by a socio-political organization called Tilak Smarak Fund.​ -Envisioned as an institution to encourage the common man to participate in the socio-cultural interaction at that time​ - Religious, social and national awareness were its main objectives​ - Was an active centre during Civil Disobedience and Quit India Movement, Underground Movements​ - Today a center for cultural expression, philanthrophy work, medical care and awareness, fitness and recreation​ - Managed by a committee elected by citizens who have its life membership after every 3 years​ - Houses one of the only and the oldest library in the neighbourhood​ - Revenue through library, Vyayamshala, merchandise and food fairs and renting out its 3 halls for ceremonies, marriages etc.​ Old Tilak Mandir (1930)

- The only exhibition on the works of theatre and literary artit P.L Dewshpande​ - Active centre for “Sobti “- community for elderly Citizens, and ‘Sakhi”- an organization for women​ - Creche, family planning, medical camps, annual free lunch to all its members some other activities​ - Conducts annual talk and debating events called Majestic Gappa.​ - Regular programs for artists, theatre and literary persons.​ - Advertisements for jobs, property, rentals and businesses.​ - Runs “DISHA” school for the deaf and mentally retarded people in a

Present day Tilak Mandir

facility ner Dahanukar College​

utkarsh mandal

- Established in 1964 by a group of youths​ - A social, cultural and religious needs of the locality​ - Started on a domestic scale with lecture series, book fairs, local cultural competitions.​ - Independent premises constructed in 1984 through public donations​ - Adopted its own constitution in 1967​ - Functions mostly on nominal revenue through programs like Balwadis, Kitchen run by women, renting its hall for exhibitions, marriages, lectures etc.​ - Marriage bureau for selected communities​ - Medical camps including a centre for the deaf; blind children​ - A permanent creche facility​

Most of the grounds and parks were planned and under the aegis of educational institutions or as a part of T.P. schemes. Hence majorly found in the historic centre. The later developed areas do not have these open spaces. The close knit gaothan in the south also expanded with slums or SRA and development projects, accounting for lack of open spaces there.

4. influx of floating population

•

•

•

•

Vile Parle as a commercial hub developed later than 1980s. After the Western Express highway was commissioned, there was more traffic influx from highway to the Station The parallel roads connecting the highway with the station road thus have most vendors, commerce establishments banks and eateries.

This trend is very much opposite to that of how the suburb was developed in early 1900s, where growth was catalyzed by the railway line instead of the highway which existed as a road since late 1930s.

Most educational institutions were a part of the older development of the town. They were very much established till the 1970-80s.

Ram krishna compounds with dense shops, clinics and industry

Auto stands, bus stops, electronics and small businesses

5

Premium shopping, malls With vendors on ground floor

4

2

Informal settlements

3

High density of commercial establishments and coaching centres

Commercial establishments

6 1 Vendors and shops along the road With living quarters at their rear

1

Mixed commercial building along with coaching classes, fitness centre and shops- the newer developments

Shops, banks, hotels and resto-bars predominate on nehru road

2

A by-product of this commercialization are the numerous coaching classes and institutes that have cropped up nearer to the station road. This can be attributed to the fact that the students' population prefers the railway to access the neighbourhood 's educational facilities. (see map).

The increase in commercialization created an extremely high activity zone in and around the market and the station. This forms an important area of study as it is the commercial and economic and transit centre of the neighbourhood.

3

Most of the market on the M.G road is mainly composed of residential buildings with ground floors occupied by shops and vendors on the street

The heavy influx of crowds on the Monghibai Road.

The hawkers worsen the traffic situation

6

Station vicinity and the road is lined with numerous such chawl settlements, some of which are the extensions of the Gaothan. These house many vendors, where the rooms are owned by a landlord/ shop owner and some of the workers as well as shop owners live in accomodations either at the rear or on the top of these shops facing the streets. Narrow alleys from the road lead to the rooms behind.

6

6

5

4

The Monghibai road is a primary point of entry into the Parle Market. The mornings are busy with commuters including students and office goers. Most of the loading and wholesale activity happens in the morning.

4

The evenings are the busiest when maximum business happens, doubled with increses commuter activity from and to the station. Affordable merchandise and grocery are the main attractions of the market.

4

During the pandemic the streets were vacated by the informal hawkers and grocery sellers. The business was sparse and market streets were deseerted.

5. housing

5.1 planning process

Initially, the paddyfields were under the khot (here, the Wadias). Christian farmers used to deposit the sara and the local cess fund to the khot’s office.The local board primary school was run from this cess fund. Irrespective of the tax recovery, the khot used to deposit the annual revenue to the treasury. The mamledar was not directly involved with the land. The farmers used to report to the khot before selling their land. Once they started getting educated, they secured jobs in Mumbai. Those who bought the land used to pay a premium to the khot and then built their houses and dug wells. Considering this growth in settlements beyond Bandra, the Mumbai Government appointed Salsette Development Officer. He imposed Building Assessment Charge on newer constructions in 1916 and sent notices to the owners for its recovery in 1917.

Notified Area Committee ( ESTD:1906) decided to undertake Town Planning Scheme1 (T.P.1).​ They called all the settlers affected by it on the station on 28 Feb 1916. - The scheme was found to be poorly planned by the residents.​ So they came together to form the Parle Town Planning Scheme Association that would suggest a better scheme and address the grievance of the citizens. T ​ he need for a permanent Association to undertake continued and long-term development of the area led to a meeting in t​ he Mor Bungalow where the Parle Residents’ Association was established on 21st March 1917.​This association submitted its recommendations to the Notified Area Committee through repeated correspondence.

But notice was received from the Salsette Development Officer to levy extra development tax due to increased development activity.​They petitioned to Thane Collector who assured the exemption and return of already collected tax money if ordered by a higher revenue or civil court.

EXTENTS immediately

on

establishment

of

Bombay

Development Department and was sanctioned ​on

TPS- I (East)

The First Town Planning Scheme was drawn

on 3rd April 1924 and had its first revision on ​15th December 1969.​ Town Planning Scheme IV and IVA was sanctioned

TPS- III (West)

The Third Town Planning Scheme was sanctioned

Western Railway (East site) Thanawala lane Tejpal Road M. G. Road K/ East Boundary Western Railway (East site) Hanuman Road (East site) Western Express Highway Western Railway (West site) Ansari Road S. V. Road Dadabhai Road

on 15th December 1926 and had its first revision on 1st July 1952 and final revision on​20th October 2008.

The Fifth Town Planning Scheme was first sanctioned on 31st August 1934 and last revised on 21st July 2008.​

Western Railway (East site) Vallabhai Road S. V. Road Dashratlal Joshi Marg

TPS- IV (East)

October 1924 and then on 10th December 1973.

TPS- V (East)

on 15th October 1924. It was first revised on 15th

Tejpal Road Playground Road Hanuman Road Dixit Road (West site)

TPS- VI (West)

The Second Town Planning Scheme was drawn​

TPS- II (East)

1st September 1920.​

Monghibai Road M. G. Road Hanuman Road Tilak Road Mandir Road Western Railway (East site)

5.2 typologies 5.2.1 gaothan cluster

Commercial activity

The original padla gaothan got divided into Western and Eastern parts with the development of the Virar to Colaba Railway Line in 1867.

The current east indian settlement is a remnant of the previously larger padla gaothan. It is characterized by a network of extremely narrow, quiet pedestrian lanes with vernacular houses (having a portugese influence) on either sides. Street junctions have small sheltered cruxifixes.

Legend

5.2.2 central cluster

Softscape Paved area Farmland

case example

Well

This is an evolution study of the area surrounding the Ram Mandir Road. This swatch lies close to the market and station and exhibits a transition from farmlands to the current dense residential fabric.

This transition can be seen as a representative for many such areas in the areas to the north of Nehru road.

Key plan Farm bunds as roads

Informal settlement Chawl/Bungalow Cooperative Housing Society Redeveloped Society Road SRA building 1. Ganpati Temple 2. Gangabai Phatak house

Tenant housing (huts and a chawl) built by Phatak

8. Kamathi Wadi Settlement 9. Lime and Cement shop

3. Chawl 4. Phatak bungalow 5. Phatak chawl

10. Harmyadam CHS 11. Chawl

6. Gujarati chawl

12. Vallabhniwas CHS

7. Farm patch

13. Post Office

rth Pra

1 Phatak property

2 6

3 oad

ir R

Ram

nd Ma

5 4

9

7 8

10

11

13

1900s-Farmlands

1940s-Settling

Ram Mandi

r Road

12

oad

aj R

am

S ana

Phatak Chawl - built in 1937

by Phatak Family who were the landowners, rented out to tenants for an average rent of Rs.15 per month

Stone masonry Plinth

Brick and Timber construction

1970s-Cooperative Housing Societies, roads connected

Aangan (softscape)

Washroom built seperate from main structure

Well used for washing, laundry

1990s- clearing of Kamathi wadi, SRA implementation

context and process of redevelopment

Parle Geeta CHS (built in 1975) Box Grill added chawl developed into cooperative housing society, flats owned by the previous tenants alongwith newer owners

2005-SRA and private development- inhabitants offered cash or flats in Virar

RCC construction

Plantation beds

Space utilized as paved Aangan

Some of the evacuees encroached onto the adjacent property

2010- SRA and private development- Kamathi wadi cleared away completely

Parle Geeta CHS (redeveloped in 2016) building underwent redevelopment by a private developer with consensus of society members who received free 33% extra Carpet Area

French windows

Absence of space for outdoor activities

Stack Parking

Being a corner plot, area claimed for road setback

Newly redeveloped residential

2021- Redevelopment of many CHSs

Chawl

Open muddy area

Light two way traffic

Narrower street

Newly redeveloped residential

2021

Well Pigs roaming the street

Chawl

1940

5.2.3 the southern area

•

The CHS structures in the are co-existed along with the slums and the Gaothan. Although the house unit size is small, the population density is low

•

With the introduction of Slum Rehabilitation Scheme in 1995, the redevelopment of the slums was accompanied by that of the older co-operative societies

•

Most builders built the SRA projects along with sections of premium apartments to consume the full FSI and make the projects financially viable

•

As the home unit sizes of the slum residents were small, majority were not eligible for the free parking and allied amenities that were allowed for larger homes

•

This resulted in large SRA towers, with extremely high density but with no adequate parking provisions. The residents’vehicles had to spill over on the service road and highway

Payawadi building is an example of the projects where one wing is developed as premium apartments while the other wings are SRA blocks. Both on the same plot

PAYAWADI

2021- Numerous 10-12 storey buildings have come up. These are the result of the SRA schemes loaded with new apartments for the builders to sell.

2010- Moderate towers 7-8 storey redeveloped structures- mostly erstwhile co-operative societies. Slum clusters get saturated.

2000- Slums and chawls orgaised in smaller clusters, interstitial spaces present, roads not properly connected to the highway.

6. conclusion By observing the neighborhood of Vile Parle (East), one can understand the evolution as well as the present state of areas under study, which has a strong imprint of history of the place. The original settlement of Padla started populating and developing near the present day railway station and market area. But to the southern end of the same road was the East Indian settlement (Gaothan); which were mostly settled in the earlier 15th-16th centuries and composed of farmers and fisherfolk.

But the present day Parle has the highly popular market, theatre and businesses in the area around the station while the Gaothan areas/ chawls today are transforming into SRA schemes and apartments.

The central part of the neighbourhood (Hanuman road, Tejpal and Paranjape scheme roads, market etc) fell under the Town Planning schemes 1 and 2 whcih triggered its development. On the other hand, the southern portion (Shraddhanand road, etc) was developed later and is still transforming. As a result of this transformation, it is getting gentrified as a dense cluster of SRAs under the T.P scheme 5. The demographic and social difference between the settled and the informal parts of the neighbourhood thus gets translated into a disparity of amenities as well as socio-cultural engagement opportunities.

The Central part is the quintessential white-collar middle class neighbourhood. Even then, the Covid pandemic resulted in the shutting down of its social infrastructure. Other than the essential services, the roads were sparsely used.

The Gaothan/ southern portion and areas on the fringes of the highway on teh other hand are in a constant state of transition, due to ever increasing development activity and lack of occupational or cultural opportunities. The roads seem to be the only site of the entire public life of the residents. These roads hosted all the markets, leisure as well as occupational activities of the people. These roads were always populated and lively.

The central neighbourhood was found to be very structured and well settled both socially and culturally with a strong historic identity. But the fringes had very little mention in the evlotion history of the neighbourhood inspite of having the place from where it was born- the Gaothan.

The above reasons led us to inquire deeper into the narrative of these less formal areas, especially the former East Indian settlements. Based on our observations, we realised that the spine running north- south; roughly parallel to the railway line exhibited the stark differences between the structured and the transforming; the well provided and the marginalised; the institutional and the informal and the native and the settled characters of Vile Parle.

We are thus extremely pleased to present our observations and analysis of the neighbourhood Vile Parle (East) right from its formative days to the present days of the pandemic with the intention of presenting its case for academic deliberation, study and finding further opportunities for its wholesome development and intervention possibilities.

7. bibliography 1. Vile Parle Amrut Smruti Granth Volume 1- published 1980​ 2. Vile Parle Amrut Smruti Granth- Volume 1 and 2 – published 2011​ 3. https://portal.mcgm.gov.in/irj/go/km/docs/documents/MCGM%20Department%20List/ ChiefEngineerBuildingProposalWesternSuburbs1/ChiefEngineer(Building%20Proposal)Western%20Suburbs-I_ RTI_E06.pdf ​ 4. https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-slum-redevelopment-at-airports-funnel-zone-to-be-fasttracked​ 5. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/parle-locals-affected-by-new-runway-zone-draft-aredevelopment-plan/articleshow/67185928.cms​ 6. https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/150318/relief-for-buildings-in-funnel-zone.html​ 7. https://www.99acres.com/articles/mumbai-bmc-opposes-high-tdrs-in-airport-funnel-zone-nid.html​ 8. https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/fsi-increased-for-residential-commercial-buildings-in-mumbai​ 9. https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/parle-locals-affected-by-new-runway-zone-draft-aredevelopment-plan/articleshow/67185928.cms​ 10. https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-extra-fsi-tdr-for-redeveloping-buildings-in-airport-funnelzone-2593945​ 11. https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/buildings-around-mumbai-airport-defence-land-to-getconstruction-bonus-govt-5098236/​ 12. 2007- builders approach/ proposals suggested by residents sent to the Managing Committee, quotations from Architect/ PMC

Builders and Developers : SRA Redev Mumbai Town Planning Act – 1954

• disdainful

attitude

towards

slum

dwellers,

obligatory for local authorities to prepare the

second only to the profits that can be reaped

Development Plans for the areas administered by

by redeveloping prime real estate​

them within the stipulated period in addition to the

•

physical preference of slum dwellers ignored​

preperation of Town Planning Schemes.

• governments

started

adopting

strategies

for communities to help alleviate themselves.​ • strategy

proved

to

be

relatively

ineffective

in eradicating slums completely ​ •

The Slum Areas (Improvement and Clearance) Act – 1956 Section 10, Sub-section 4 states:

fundamental problem - required more capital than any developing nation could bring upfor these programs

•

Most slum-dwellers relocated to new accomodation that was substandard

“When a slum clearance order has become operative, the owners of buildings to which the order applies shall demolish the buildings before the expiration of six weeks from the date on which the buildings are required by the order to be vacated or before the expiration of such longer period as in the circumstances of the case the competent authority may deem reasonable.”

land if the said land is not used within a period of

Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act - 1966

12 months after clearance, for the planned purpose

•

Central Government holds the power to acquire the

sanitary and hygienic conditions

according to the city plan.

It also gives the state the power of declaring an area

slums to have access to basic utilities alleviating the

•

but only pockets of lands meant to be improved

as a slum based on its surveys, giving it the right to

upon under the development plan would be

enact slum clearance on it.

provided with these utilities .

velopment Maharashtra Slum (Improvement, Clearance Redevelopment) Act - 1971

Areas And

•

On the other hand, the state carried out increasingly aggressive slum clearances after passing this act, violating several international human rights in the process.

• make better provision for the improvement and clearance of slum areas in the State and their redevelopment 1[and for the protection of occupiers from eviction and distress warrants].

•

for the improvement and clearance of slum areas

Amendment to Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act – 1973

in the State and 2[for their redevelopment and

Slum Improvement Board(SIB) set up in the interest of

for the protection of occupiers from eviction and

expediting the providing of utilities.

Whereas, it is expedient to make better provision

distress warrants;] and for matters connected with the purposes aforesaid

Slum Upgrading Programme – 1985 • “sites should be provided to residents presented with census cards in 1976;

Slum Rehabilitation Authority for implementing •

Slum Rehabilitation Scheme • •

slums in existence for 20 years or more were not

to survey and review existing position regarding

to be removed unless land was required for public

slum areas;

purposes and, in that case, alternative sites must be

to formulate schemes for rehabilitation of slum

provided;

areas; • to

get

the

Slum

Rehabilitation

•

high priority should be given to resettlement.”

•

leasing of existing slum land to cooperative groups

Scheme

implemented; • to do all such other acts and things as may

of slum dwellers at affordable rates(where the lands

be necessary for achieving the objects of

were not needed for public purposes) and giving

rehabilitation of slums

loans for environmental and housing improvements

• perception of slums gradually changing from

• conflict over land value remained, since some families got assets worth much more than others

an uncontrollable nuisance to a self-organizing organic solution to the pressing housing problem •

•

main problem - acquisition of private land, which

of Mumbai.

was proving to be full of hurdles, when almost half of

This Act took a never before-seen sympathetic

the city’s slums occupy private land

attitude towards slums •

state recognized that it was inadequately funded

•

vs. Bombay Municipal Corporation case

to clear the slums overnight and that the next best step for it was to see to it that these slums

•

• put together with the MRTP Act of 1966, gave slum

first step in regulating the question of tenure for slum dwellers

do not become a ‘source of danger to the health, safety and convenience’ of the people

Landmark decision by Supreme Court in Olga Tellis

•

one of the formative judgments in India’s housing right policies

dwellers the effective power to ‘legally’ encroach a private land.

appendix

Builders and Developers : SRA Redev The Prime Minister’s Grant Project - 1985

Privatization of Slum Rehabilitation - 1991

•

grant of Rs. 1 Billion for housing projects focused

policy changes in Construction industry and slum

mainly on upgrading the Dharavi slums.

rehabilitation due to wave of privatization in India

establishment of a PMGP unit in the state housing

saw the government take a back seat and enable the

authority that gave a two-pronged solution to

for-profit private players to enter the market of Slum

the slum dwellers of Dharavi:

Rehabilitation.

•

• opt for acquiring tenure of their land and acquiring subsidized loans for its development, • •

Or existing slums would be demolished and the

Slum Redevelopment Scheme - 1991

property redeveloped with

•

residential complexes of higher intensity.

built upon the already existing PMGP to extend its benefits to the rest of Mumbai beyond Dharavi

•

The state recognized that subsidies did not have to come in the form of grants or donations but that of relaxing of some regulations that would raise capital

The Alliance - 1986 •

from the free market.

Consists of 3 NGOs: “The Society for the Promotion

•

of Area Resource Centers” (SPARC), the National

It incentivized private developers to demolish existing slums and provide new on-site housing.

Slum Dwellers Federation (NSDF) and Mahila

•

limited the profits of the private developers to 25%.

Milan

•

The projects could be initiated only after collecting the consent of 75% of the slum-dwellers. - became

• appointed by the Mumbai Urban Transport Project (MUTP) as the chief interlocutor for its

an issue •

rehabilitation project, which involved relocating 16,000 families that lived along the railway tracks.

•

slum dwellers were then awarded a renewable lease of 30 years to their new homes.

•

also as the nodal agency for the redevelopment

The new houses were not permitted to be transferred for a period of 10 years.

of 9,000 structures along the roads that were being developed by MUIP in the 2000s • played

an

important

role

in

initiating

Redevelopment activities in the urban areas

Changes to Development Control Regulations (DCR): •

• placed in a strategic location, in close contact with the developers and the slum habitants •

as incentives to the developers.

•

The extra units constructed would be sold at market

defined and influenced future modifications in

price, the profits of which will be entirely given to

the schemes to a large extent

the private developers

•

A third-party with no vested interest in the profits

•

takes up projects itself, redeveloping projects at its own cost

•

added Floor-Area Ratio (FAR)/Floor Space Index (FSI)

•

slum dwellers awarded new apartments for merely Rs. 15,000 in the same location

•

total built-up area measured as Floor Space Index

has rehabilitated large number of slum dwellers

limited to 2.5, (significant increase from previous 1.33

displaced due to infrastructure projects

FSI throughout the city).

velopment Slum Rehabilitation Scheme - 1995 •

•

Every slum dweller accounted for in 1995 electoral

Transferable Development Rights for Funnel Zone - 2018

vote eligible for benefits of SRS, so provisions for

BUILDINGS facing height restrictions, owing to their

pavement dwellers for the first time.

proximity to the airport or defence installations, in

cap of 25% on the profits removed, bringing

Mumbai may soon be in a position to avail of a huge

full potential of construction industry to slum

construction bonanza.

rehabilitation.

•

Transferable

Development

Rights

(TDR)

to

further attract private developers •

buildings impacted by the restrictions around the

development rights generated to any other sites

airport and defence lands. “The height restrictions

in the city, many times more profitable than the

have impacted the viability of such redevelopments.

SRS sites.

In order to overcome the hardship faced by residents,

carpet area of tenements increased to 225 sq. ft.

provisions of conferring additional building rights

(approx. 20 sq. m.) from 15 sq.m.

for such redevelopments in the form of transferable

The cost of Rs 15000 for new houses canceled, so

development rights (TDR) or additional floor space

new accommodation virtually free of cost

index, and relaxations in town planning norms are being

•

central monitoring and clearing agency set up

considered,” Fadnavis informed the Assembly.

•

incentives

He said further hinted that the town planning

•

•

to

transfer

given

part

to

of

government has proposed special concessions for surplus

•

allowed

This will be the first time in India, when a state

the

construct

transit

accommodation on vacant public lands

concessions to be offered for such developments

still required the consent of 75% of the slum

could be in the form of dilution of norms required to

dwellers, which made execution difficult

be maintained for side margins around the plot, and permitting clubbing of two or more plots. TDR is a kind of floating floor space that can be utilise elsewhere in

Statewide Slum Rehabilitation Authority set up

the city.

for overseeing, coordinating and approving these schemes.

According to information, close to 6,000 buildings located near the airport in suburban Vile Parle, Khar,

In 2013, Bombay High Court asked the Government

Santacruz, Kurla, and Ghatkopar, which house over

of Maharashtra to do away with the norm of

3.6 lakh people, attract height restrictions as they are

obtaining consent from 75% of the slum dwellers.

situated in the airport’s imaginary “funnel” zone or the approach path of a low-flying aircraft.

•

pertinent

to

projects

an

The TDR sop would mean a switch towards a variable

integrated development of slums into townships,

FSI regime. The government is also considering high

commonly

density developments around public transportation

known

as

which cluster

included

development

projects.

•

interchanges across Mumbai.

The Court recognized that obtaining such consent was a herculean task and was obstructing many

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/buildings-around-

projects from proceeding by enabling the

mumbai-airport-defence-land-to-get-construction-bonus-govt-5098236/

slumlords to arm-twist the developers.

appendix

Funnel Zone

The current situation •

Runway funnel Zone- area aligned with the runways along the specific paths followed by flights while landing and takeoffs

•

Airport Authority of India(AAI) and Directorate of General Aviation(DGCA) laid down stringent restrictions on the heights of buildings falling within 2.25 km from the runway

•

as a result, hundreds of buildings ( many old and crumbling- 40 to 50 year old) in funnel zone cannot be redeveloped unless government provisions made

•

3.6 lakh G+2 storeyed building residents, 6000 buildings affected in Vile Parle, Santacruz, Kurla and Ghatkopar

Proposal •

Zone should be given an FSI of 3.00 on the line of DCR 33(7)B- would allow residents to use a fungible FSI of 35% over carpet area and utilize additional carpet area of 15% or 10 sq.m.

•

society could get additional carpet area by paying a premium

•

the FSI that cannot be consumed on the plot should be allowed to be converted into TDR

•

clubbing of plots-changes in DP

•

developers would come forward for redevelopment due to this extra FSI or TDR

•

team led by architect Nikhil Dixit and others came up with the proposal, presented to Urban Development Secretary, Chief Engineer and Deputy Chief Engineer by BJP MLA Parag Alavani

Response •

BMC opposed to the propasal, set up committee for studying it

News Articles Runway funnel zone plan submitted to state

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/civic/runway-funnel-

opposed the high Transfer of Development Rights

zone-redevelopment-plan-submitted-to-state/articleshow/67617031.

(TDR) in the airport funnel zone.

cms

https://www.99acres.com/articles/mumbai-bmc-opposes-high-tdrs-inairport-funnel-zone-nid.html

An estimated 3.6 lakh residents living in ground

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has

plus two buildings in areas adjoining the airport in

recently received a proposal from the Education Minister

Vile Parle, Santacruz, Kurla and Ghatkopar have

for increasing the Floor Space Index (FSI) of plots in the

been impacted by the runway funnel zone height

vicinity to the airport funnel zone. The proposal entails

restrictions.

an FSI increment of 4.48 in Vile Parle, 4.97 in Santacruz, and 9.22 in Kurla. However, Praveen Pardeshi, Municipal

A team of residents met officials and impressed

Commissioner, BMC has opposed the move and written

upon them the need for a subsidy for reconstruction,

a letter to Nitin Kareer, Secretary, Urban Development

stating the sound pollution and height restrictions

Department, stating the demands. Moreover, the

some of the perpetual problems they face.

authority has also constituted a committee to study the proposal, which would be submitted to the government soon.

In their proposal, the residents have emphasised

As per the analysis of the committee, it has been reported

that the new formula for funnel zone redevelopment

that implementation of the suggested changes would

will have clear riders stating that he scheme will be

require amendments in the Maharashtra Regional Town

applicable only to the existing funnel zone residents,

Planning Act and Development Control Regulations,

to ensure no one including developers can take

2034. It would require incorporation of a clause of higher

undue advantage of the scheme.

TDR and recovery of the construction cost and loss of

Then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed the

profit.

Urban Development Department to look into the proposal.

Moreover, it would be challenging to undertake higher FSI in the recommended areas owing to height restrictions. “There are certain areas where zonal FSI has been permitted as per the Regulation 30 (C) of Development Control Regulations, 2034,” shares Pardeshi. Therefore, BMC has recommended that the facilities given under the Slum Rehabilitation Schemes would be allotted to the areas suggested by the Education Minister.

appendix

Funnel Zone News Articles

Citizen Initiatives

Extra FSI, TDR for redeveloping buildings in airport

https://twitter.com/zonerunway?lang=en

funnel zone https: //www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-extra-fsi-tdr-forredeveloping-buildings-in-airport-funnel-zone-2593945

A BMC officer looped up with the drafting of DP 2034 told DNA, “Redevelopment has been stagnant in these areas as FSI available for plots in the funnel zone is not being used. The only way to help out the residents is allowing these buildings their entitled FSI in the form of TDR. This will allow them to compensate for the built-up area that they are losing on the site.”

https: //www.f reepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-slumredevelopment-at-airports-funnel-zone-to-be-fast-tracked

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/parle-localsaffected-by-new-runway-zone-draft-a-redevelopment-plan/ articleshow/67185928.cms

https://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/150318/relief-forbuildings-in-funnel-zone.html

Floor Space Index The Mumbai Development Plan 2034 approved by the Maharashtra government increased the floor space index, or the extent of development allowed on a piece of land, for both commercial and residential buildings, according to officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s Town Planning Department .

https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/fsi-increased-for-residential-commercial-buildings-in-mumbai

FSI In Suburbs: Residential: 2.5 Vs 2 earlier.

Commercial: 5 Vs 2.5 earlier.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/mumbai-news/boost-for-revamp-maharashtra-govt-to-f rameseparate-height-rules-for-buildings-near-mumbai-airport/story-G5o4cjuuO68Tf7WnpaOhZL.html

One option is to reduce the floor height and add more habitable space. The length of the runway could be increased, which would give an additional 10 metres to each building

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/mumbai/other/parle-locals-affected-by-new-runway-zone-draft-aredevelopment-plan/articleshow/67185928.cms

The proposal suggested that the zone should be given a FSI of 3.00 on the line of DCR which would allow the residents to use fungible FSI of 35% over the carpet area and utilize additional carpet area of 15 % or 10 sq m. The FSI that cannot be consumed on the plot should be allowed to be converted into Transfer of Development Rights

appendix