The City of Contrasts: The Story of Mumbai's Skyscrapers to Slum Area and Back Again
Slumsandskyscrapersarelikelythetwotermsthataremostfrequentlyusedwhen individualsandofficialsdiscusshowcitiesdevelop.Theslums'destitutionandskyscrapers' sterilityaretheAchilles'heelsofcityplannersandcommunityleaders.Theylike residentialareasthatarewell mixedwithresidences,businesses,offices,andpublic amenities.ThismakesusthinkofMumbai,India'sfinancialhub.Mumbaihasalsobeen referredtoastheMayanagriortheCityofDreamers,amongothernames.Itis understandablewhythiscityhassomuchtooffer,fromstrollsalongMarineDriveatnight toenjoyingchaiwhilewatchingtherainfromyourbalcony.Mumbai,however,displays itselfintwodifferentways.DespiteMumbai'sgleamingoceanfronttowers,affluent neighbourhoods,andexcitingnightlife,thecity'sdreadfulrealityisfoundinitsslum district.
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Inarelativelyshortperiodoftime,thismetropolishasexpandedtoastoundingsizes.Itis hometosomeofthemostexpensivepropertydevelopmentsintheworld,suchAntilia,yet itisalsohometooneofthebiggestslumareas.Mumbaiishometothewell knownand largestslumintheworld,Dharavi.InsidetheMumbaimetropolis,whichismadeupofa continuouslengthofsmokypassagewaysandopensewers,itnearlyseemslikeadifferent universe.
Themajorityofresidentsofthiscityofdreamsliveinhomesthatareunfitforhuman habitation.Slumsandillegalsettlementshavesprungupeverywhere.Butwhyaresomany residentsinthenation'sfinancialcentrerequiredtoliveinchawlsandslums,suchsubpar housingstructures?HowdidMumbai'surbanlandscapedevelopsuchastarkcontrast?And whatelementssupportitsongoingrisetoprominencewitheachpassingday?Let's investigate.
Slums and Chawls of Mumbai
Mumbaihasawiderangeofunusualdwellingconfigurationsduetonecessity.Chawlsand slumsaretwoexamplesofunusualdwellingarrangementsthatcanbefoundalloverthe world.Thecongestioninthesedenselypopulatedareaspromotessocialbehaviourslike publicsleeping,publicbathing,aswellasthesharingofpublicamenitieslikewaterand toiletfacilities.
Thesehousingsystems,whichdatebacktotheearly1800swhenBritaincontrolledIndia, havechangedtoaccommodateanincreasingpopulationinaconstrainedspace.Duetothe constructionofaneffectivepublictransportationsysteminthemiddleofthe19thcentury, post colonialMumbaiunderwentarapidurbanization.
Withsuchquickexpansion,thecityhasseenabroadvarietyofhousingalternativesarise, includingtents,chawls,apartments,bungalows,andhigh risebuildings.
Housing Section for Mumbai Residents
Mumbai'stopographyischaracterizedbyablurofterritorialboundariesduetothecity's spontaneousproliferationofbothnominallyandinformallybuiltproperties. Thiscanbeanythingfromasix footstretchofusablesleepingspacetoanambiguous tenancysituationsharedbythreefamiliesthatare"renting"thesameroom.Jhopad patties givewaytoillegal,onlysemi permanentconstructions,whichinturngivewayto pavements.Thesebuildingsareconnectedtochawlsandothersortsofsubparhousingon anotherspectrum.Apartmentsownedandrentedbymembersofthelargemiddleclassare locatedabovethislevel,whiletherichandextremelyrichowntheflatsandhousesthatare locatedabovethem.
Slumsettlementstypicallyincludeavarietyofhousingoptions,includingtents,mudand thatchhouses,andbrickandcementbuildings.Eachunitisfrequentlylessthaneightby eightfeet,andtherearenocommunalamenitiesavailable.Becausetheimpoverishedthat lackstablehousingmightbefoundanywhere,neighbourhoodlinesdonotproperly categoriestheseresidences.
Peoplefromlowersocioeconomicclassesandmigrantswholiveincitiesinsearchofwork typicallyresideinslums.Butevenoncethey'veacquiredsomemoneyandcanaffordto moveout,manyfrequentlycontinuetoliveintheirclaustrophobicslumdwellings.During thecolonialera,theseimpromptusquatterhomeswereonlyfoundclosetotheareasof employment.However,asIndiaearneditsfreedom,thesecolonieseventuallyrelocatedto lessidealurbandistricts,suchwastelandorswampyplacesclosetorailroadtracks.
Colonial Mumbai's Working Class Housing
MumbaiwasgiventotheKingofEnglandbythePortuguesein1661.TheEastIndia CompanywasgivenaleaseonthecitybytheKingofEnglandtwoyearslater,in1668,so thatitmightbeusedforbusinessventures.Mumbaiatthattimewasdividedintothree sections:
BombayIslandwashometothemaincastle.
TheannexationofMahim.
Parel,Mezagaon,Varlu,Matunga,Vadadla,Colaba,Naigaum,&Dharaviaretheeight villagesthatmakeupthisarea.
ThecastlethatoriginallystoodonBombayIslandwasreplacedin1715byafortwallasa resultoftheisland'sexpandingpopulation.
TheGreatFireof1803destroyedasignificantamountofIndianmerchantproperty,and thecitywasreorganizedasaresultoftheincreasingencroachmentofvillagehomesinto thefortarea.TheIndiansweremovedtotheregionnorthofthefortwallasaresultofthis reorganization.
Additionally,itledtotheBritish"distilling"localtribesfromthefortregionandforcing developmentoutsideofthefortwalls.Tothenorthofthewalledcity,theBritishbuilt textilemills.Chawlsgrewrapidlyinthe1850s&duringtheCottonBoomof1860asa resultofthistypeofindustrialization.ThesemillsmaybefoundinlocationslikeWest Parel,Tardeo,andLalbagh,whicharenowapartofMumbai'scentralbusinessarea. Mumbai'sexpandingmiddle&lowerclassesincreaseddemandforresidential &commercialrealestateasaresultofthecity'sexpandingmanufacturingsector.
Becausetheycouldnotaffordtoliveinmoreidealplaces,workersfromlower &middle classfamilieswerecompelledtoresideinlessdesirableneighbourhoods,whichwere frequentlyadjacenttoindustries.Thisstrategyledtothesettlementofnumerousmigrant millworkersinunsuitableneighbourhoods,resultinginsegregatedenclavesinsidethecity. ThisistodayknownastheMumbaislumarea.
Housing in Post Colonial Mumbai for Working Class
Asaresultoftheinflowofmigrants&refugeesthathappenedinindependentIndiainthe yearsfollowingWorldWarII,thescarcityofhousingsoonrosetothetopofthelistofthe nation'smosturgentissues.Theaveragenumberofoccupantsinadwellingspacehas climbedtosixby1951.Settlementsinslumareasservedastheissue'soutward embodiment.
TheexpansionoftheslumsreceivednoconcernfromtheBritishgovernment.Despitethe statemakingrelativelylittleinvestment,theeconomywassustainedbycheaplabour, makingitaprofitablescheme.TheIndiangovernmentdeclaredthatitwouldeliminate slums&replacethemwith"standard"housingfortheworkingclasswhenthenation attainedindependence.Betterhousingforslumdwellersandallowingthemtolive permanentlyontheirlegallyorillegallyinvaded&annexedlandcontinuetoconflictwith oneanother.
Mumbai's slums' location and characteristics
OneofthemostpopulousandrichcitiesinIndiaisMumbai.Someofthebiggestslumsin theworldincludeDharavi,Mankhurd Govandibelt,Kurla Ghatkoparbelt,Dindoshi,asWell astheBhandup Mulundslums.Theseslums'primarycharacteristicsare:
HighRateofPoverty HighUnemploymentRate Urbandegradationonalargescale; BreedingGroundsforSocietalIllsSuchasCrime,DrugAbuse,etc.; IncidenceofMentalDisorders,Suicide,etc.; loweconomicstatusofthelocals; inadequateinfrastructurefacilities; ofAcuteMalnutrition ofdrinkablewater; NotProvidingEssentialHealthcare; unsanitaryanduncleansurroundings; Lowlevelofexistenceorpoorqualityoflife.
Top Facts about Mumbai's Slums
Mumbaihasbeenstrugglingtofindextraspacesincethecolonialera.Mumbaiis surroundedbyseaonthreesides.Thestrainisincreasedbythecontinualflowofmigrants fromvariouspartsofIndiawhohavebeendrawntothecitybyitsimprovingeconomic possibilities.Duetoadearthofaffordableaccommodationandanongoingincreasein metropolitanrealestatecosts,formalresidenceisoutofreachforthemajorityofthese migrants.
AdjacenttoDharaviistheBandraKurlaComplex,oneofAsia'srichestcorporatehubs.Due toitsproximitytoMumbai'stwomainsuburbantrainlines,peoplemightbeabletoarrive atworkpromptly.Dharaviishometoalargenumberofthrivingsmallbusinessesthat producehigh qualityceramics,plastic,leathergoodsforexport,andembroideredclothes. Itisanextremelydiverse,multi ethnic,andmulti religioussettlement.Oneofthemost literateslumsinallofIndia,Dharavihasaliteracyrateof69%,accordingtoWikipedia. Mostslumresidencesaredevoidofprivatelatrinesandfaucets.Theinfrequently maintainedpublicfacilitiesandpriceywatersoldbyvendorsmustbepaidforbyresidents. SomebathroomsinMumbai'sslumslackelectricity,whileotherslackrunningwater.There arealotofslumresidenceswithinadequatedoors.
InadditiontothemillionsofpeoplewholiveinMumbai'sslums,thecityalsohasasizeable numberofpeoplewhoarehomelessandunabletogetlong termaccommodation.The officialfigureofhomelesspeopleinthecityisaroundalakh.Somecontendthatthereal figuremightbemuchhigher.
Sincethe1990s,Mumbai'sstategovernmenthasworkedtorehabilitatetheslumsinorder tobothfreeuplandandaddressitsexpandingslumpopulation.TheSlumRehabilitation Authorityallowsnewdwellingstobebuiltinhistoricallyslumareasifprivatedevelopers canwintheconsentoftheneighborhood'scurrentresidents.Thedevelopershallprovide freehousingtothetenantsinthenewlyconstructedstructures.Theleftoverbuildingspace mightthenbeusedtoconstructopulentskyscrapersthatcouldbesoldtocorporations.So, whilerevitalizingtheneighbourhood,theseslumrehabilitationprojectsalsogive developersaccesstoprimerealestate.
Dharavi is the largest slum in the world.
TheBritishbuiltthissluminthe19thcenturytohousethepoorandindustrialworkers whoweremigratingfromruralIndiatoMumbai.
Becauseoftheslum'shigher than averageconcentrationofTamils(peoplefromTamil Nadu),itisknownas"chottaTamilNadu"(smallTamilNadu).
Inthe18thcentury,thisareawasmerelyamangrovemarsh.Aroundtheturnofthe19th century,manyhundredKolifishermenbuilttheKoliwadavillagehere.
Bythemiddleofthe19thcentury,Mumbaihadexperiencedapopulationexplosion,and manyIndianshadrelocatedthereinsearchofworkwiththeEastIndiaCompany.Ten timesmorepeoplelivedinthecitythaninLondon.
IndianswithlowsalariesstartedtosettledowninDharavi.Tomakethingseasier,the Britishgovernmentgavethema99 yearleasein1895.Theseinhabitantsbuilttinyvillages insidethem,includingbusinesses,schools,mosques,temples,andotherbuildings.
DharavistartedtobeusedasalandfillafterIndiagaineditsindependencefromtheBritish. DharavichangedasMumbaibecameacityoftheutmostmodernism,becomingthegarbage dumpofthecity.DevelopmentplansforDharaviwereprovidedbyeachpoliticalpartyin powerinMumbai.Butmostofthemcameupshort.In1960,asocialworkerinDharavi establishedtheCo operativeHousingSocietytoenhancethestandardoflivingforthose whoresidedintheslum.
Numerouscompanieshaveofferednumerousplansandsuggestionsforenhancingand reconstructingDharavi.
AllpreparationshavebeenabandonedasaresultofprotestsfromDharaviresidentsand othergroups.
Colonial Period: The Dharavi Slums
Inpre colonialIndia,afishingcommunitycalledKolihaddevelopedclosetotheislandof Parel'snorthernmostpoint.TheylivedclosetoMahimCreek,whichhadlongprovided themwithasourceoffood.Keepinmindthatthiswasthepre colonialBombay,which consistedofsevenislandsoffthecoastoftheArabianSea.ThePortuguesecolonistsdidnot haveanyimpactontheKolifishermen'scommunitywhentheybuiltasmallfortandchapel atBandra,thebeachoppositeDharavi,inthe16thcentury.GeraldAungier,thesecond BritishgovernorofBombay,gavetheordertobuildtheKalaQila,alsoknownastheRiwa Fort,inDharavi.FortheBritishforces,thefortservedasawatchtower,guardingthem
fromanyMarathaorPortugueseincursions.ThebeginningofthereclamationofBombay's marshesinthe18thcenturywasaturningpointinDharavi'shistory.Thecombinedland massofallsevenislandswaslocatedoutsideParel.
MahimCreeksoondriedupasaresultofthereclamationeffort.TheKolivillagehadrun outofresourcesandhadbeguntospreadoutinquestofnewchances.Initially,immigrants fromGujarat,Konkan,&Maharashtraweredrawntothecolonial,industrialcityofBombay bytheopportunitiesitoffered.Theauthoritiesimmediatelydrovetheseimmigrantsnorth totheoutskirtsofBombayoncetheylandedinthesouthernpartofthecity.Dharaviwas thehomeofnumerousartistsandaspirantsbythestartofthe20thcentury,including MuslimleathertannersfromTamilNadu,UttarPradeshembroideryworkers,&Tamil Naduconfectioners.
WhenMaharashtrapassedtheMaharashtraSlumAreasImprovement,Clearanceand RedevelopmentActin1971,Dharaviwasclassifiedasaslum.Waterandsewagepipes, taps,restrooms,power,andotheramenitiesforthepublicwereerectedalongtheSion Mahim Linkroutes.Toaccommodatepeoplewhosedwellingswereinthewayof constructionprojects,transitcampswereconstructed.
After Independence, the Dharavi Slums
WhenMaharashtrapassedtheMaharashtraSlumAreasImprovement,Clearanceand RedevelopmentActin1971,Dharaviwasclassifiedasaslum.Waterandsewagepipes, taps,restrooms,power,andotheramenitiesforthepublicwereerectedalongtheSion
Mahim Linkroutes.Toaccommodatepeoplewhosedwellingswereinthewayof constructionprojects,transitcampswereconstructed.WhenMaharashtrapassedthe MaharashtraSlumAreasImprovement,Clearance&RedevelopmentActin1971,Dharavi wasclassifiedasaslum.Waterandsewagepipes,taps,restrooms,power,andother amenitiesforthepublicwereerectedalongtheSion Mahim Linkroutes.Toaccommodate peoplewhosedwellingswereinthewayofconstructionprojects,transitcampswere constructed.
TheyearsthatfollowedsawalotofactivityinDharavi.TheexistenceofDharaviandthe urgencyforitsexpansionwereacknowledgedinthe1981Bombaydevelopmentplan.In 1985,RajivGandhipledgedRs.100crorestoimprovethehousingstockandother amenitiesinBombay,withabout30%setasideforDharavi.ThePrimeMinister'sGrant Projectwasstartedin1987,andaSpecialPlanningAuthoritywasestablishedbythe MHADA.
Mumbaiwasgraduallydemolishedandrebuilt,butthistimewithanFSIthatwasroughly double.Theentirepremiseofthereportrestedonapublic privatecollaborationtoattract significantsumsoffundingfromaroundtheworldtothehousingandinfrastructure sectors.
TheDharaviRedevelopmentPlanwasdevelopedbytheMaharashtragovernmentin2004 inresponsetothereport'srecommendations.ItenvisioneddividingDharaviintofiveparts inexchangeforbetterdevelopedlandandrequestingthatbusinessesallovertheworld offerfreehousingtothe"eligible"slumdwellersofDharavi.Thiswasnotwarmlyreceived bythepeopleofDharavi.TheDharaviresidentshadlittlesayintheoveralldevelopment plan,andthepoliciesignoredtheirneeds.
What is the Dharavi Redevelopment Project (DRP)?
TheDharaviRedevelopmentProject,oftenknownastheDRP,wascreatedin1995by IndianarchitectMukeshMehta,anon resident.TheDRPreceivedapprovalfromthe Maharashtragovernmentin2004.Currently,theDharaviRedevelopmentProject(DRP)is expectedtofreshenuptheDharaviNotifiedArea(DNA),aroughlytriangularareaofprime landthatcontainsastonishing525acres.TheDRP'space,however,hasacceleratedand deceleratednumeroustimesovertheprevious16years.
TheDharaviNotifiedAreawascreatedin2005accordingtoaresolutionissuedbythe UrbanDevelopmentDepartmentaftertheDRP'sofficialapprovalin2004.Thisresolution mandatedthattheSlumRehabilitationAuthority(SRA)actastheDRP'sSpecialPlanning Authority.TheDRPwelcomedtheproject'sinitialroundofinternationalapplicationsin
2007.Thegovernmentandthenon governmentalorganisationMASHALalsoundertaken thedifficulttaskofconductingaGIS biometricsurveyandasocioeconomicbaselineof Dharavi'ssectors1 5between2007and2008.TheDRPhasneverbeenabletoattract majorbuildersorsizeableinvestmentsduetoitsunstablenatureandtherealestate market'svolatility.It'sprobablethatthegovernment'smotivationtoparticipateinthe programmewasdiminishedbecausetheprivatesectorshowedsuchlittleinterestinthe DRPproject.TheDRPexperiencedaperiodofrelativeinactivitybetween2008and2016, duringwhichthegovernment controlledMHADAwasinchargeofdevelopingDharavi sector5.
WhentheMaharashtragovernmentmadethedecisiontocreateaspecialpurposeentityin 2018tofurtherencourageparticipationintheDRP,thissituationchanged(SPV).Asingle functionObject()[nativecode]oragroupofconstructorsworkingtogetherasasingle constructwouldberesponsibleforhandlingthebuildingofSectors1 5.Thestatewould ownastakeinthespecialpurposevehicle(SPV)equalto20%,oronehundredcrores,and theprivatedeveloperwouldownastakeequivalentto80%,orfourhundredcrores.The DevelopmentControlRegulations2034,whichhaveparticularrulesfortheDRP,were passedbytheBMCinNovember2018.
OnlySecLinkTechnologiesCorporation&AdaniInfrastructure,twoconsortiaofbuilders, participatedinthemostrecentroundofbidding.DespiteeffortsbytheStateof Maharashtratoholdthecompetition.SecLinkTechnologiesCorporation(STC),aDubai basedconsortium,wasnamedthecontest'svictor,earningapromisetoinvestRs.7,200 croresintheproject'sinitialphase.However,theprojectsawyetanotherperiodof inaction.
The16 year oldreconstructionprojectwillnowbeputouttonewbids,thestate governmentofMaharashtrahasdetermined.Afterthestategovernmentcancelledthe project'spriortender,thischoicewasmadein2020.
TherebuildingofDharaviwillhaveaprofoundimpactonMumbaiaswellasthepolitical landscapeformanyyearstocome.Accordingtoexperts,theeffortwillofferslumdwellers asizablechancewhilealsosupportingurbanplanners,humanrightsactivists,andthe governmentofthestateofMaharashtrainchangingtheappearanceofthecityasawhole.
Why Dharavi Needs High-Rise Structures
TheagenciesinchargeofDharavi'sinfrastructuremustsimultaneouslypermitthe constructionofnumerousskyscrapersandupgradethecity'scurrentamenities.Here's howthiswillbebeneficial:
TheclandestineeconomyofDharaviisthoughttogenerate$500millioninrevenue annually.TheunemploymentrateinIndia'sslums,likeDharavi,issubstantiallylowerthan itiselsewhereinthenation.WhencomparedtoIndiannorms,theaverageannualsalaryis between$500&$2,000,whichisnotexceptionallylow.Ontheotherhand,thereareno furtheramenitiesavailabletothelocalsherebeyondwhatisnecessaryforsurvival. Dharavi'spopulationdensityiscurrentlyunhealthyduetoalackoffloorspaceinthecity. Moretrade&interactioncouldemergefromadensepopulation.However,italsoraisesthe chanceofsickness,whichhastheeffectofincreasingneonatalmortalityanddecreasinglife expectancy.Dharavicanmaintainitshighpopulationdensitywhilesimultaneously decongestingitslivingareasbybuildingmoretowersofthistype.
Dharavi'scurrentproblemsarenotunique.Nearlyallofadevelopingnation'sbigcities havetheseneighbourhoods.Eventheglobalwesternmetropolisofthe19thcenturyhad them.ThemostpopulouscitiesinEnglandwerereferredtoas"deathtraps"duringthe middleofthe19thcentury.DeathsinLondonbetween1650to1750cuttheincreasein England'spopulationinhalf.Peopleweredrawntothemostlucrativecitiesoftodays developedWest,whichincreasedthedangerofprematuredeathsincetheylivedtooclose tooneanotherinareaswithinadequatewatersupplyandsanitaryfacilities.NewYorkhas afarshorterlifeexpectancythantherestofthecountrycomparedtoacenturyago. Dharavi,India,isinalotbetterconditiontohandlethecurrentscenariothanLondonor NewYorkwere150yearsago.InawealthycitylikeMumbai,thelocalgovernmentcan collectenoughmoneyfromfeesonrealestatedeveloperswhobuildupwardtofundthe constructionofbasicinfrastructure.
Likeothercitiesthroughouttheglobe,Dharavihastheabilitytoraisetheleveloflivingfor itscitizens.Ontheotherside,ifitfails,manyindividualsmightdrawtheconclusionthat Dharavi styleslumsareoneofthenegativeeffectsofurbanization.Despitethefactthat manywholiveinDharaviarebetterofftherethanintheplacestheyleftbehind,thiswillbe seenasjustificationforaslowerrateofurbanization.Despitealltheissuestheybring, slumsofferlow-incomeresidentsthemostaffordablehousingoptions.Eventhoughthere isnoproofthatahigherbuildingdensitywillleadtoahigherpopulationdensity,the inadequateinfrastructureinDharavicouldbeusedasjustificationforretainingthecurrent buildingdensity.InDharavi'sresidentialneighbourhoods,therehasalreadybeensome informalvirtualizationofslums.Theamountofeconomicactivitywouldsoarandgrow evenmorevibrant&dynamicallyiftheseunofficialtownsweregivenformalrecognition.
Mumbaihasofferedslumdwellersresettlementprogrammessincesince1936.Butthese programmestypicallydisregardtheneedsandinterestsofthosewhoresideinslums,and theyregularlycreateregulationswithoutconsultinganyone.Sinceitisextremely expensiveforthemtogofurtheroutsideofthecitycentre,slumpeoplefrequentlyreclaim theareasofthecitywheretheywerepreviouslylocated.Realestateinthisdistrictisnot inexpensive,asevidencedbythefactthatshantiesinDharavicancostmorethanonecrore rupees.Tocallthisplacehome,residentsneedenoughinfrastructures,additionalfloor space,andtheirhouses'legalrights.
Conclusion
Mumbaihasalargenumberofslumregions,whichcontrastsharplywiththecity'saffluent urbanpopulation.Giventhedeplorablelivingconditions,itisonlyfairthatslumresidents haveaccesstoatleastthemostbasicamenitiesandinfrastructure.Alongwithrestoration, italsocontributestoabettermetropolitanskyline.
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