By Apurva Bhatt
The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC) is set to design a plan for in-situ (in the same location) rehabilitation of the project-affected people (PAP) of Girgaum and Kalbadevi for the Metro 3 project. The authority will appoint a consultant for the resettlement and rehabilitation (R&R) of those affected. The consultant will also look at the option of cluster development involving dilapidated buildings in the area. On March 16, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had announced bigger homes for the PAP, following protests from all quarters, including ally Shiv Sena. “We expect that the consultant will come up with the draft plan in six months,” said Ashwini Bhide, managing director, MMRC.
The MMRC will discuss the draft plan with the residents to make them aware of the R&R model. Subsequently, the plan will be sent to the state government for approval. The MMRC is supposed to rehabilitate 777 families living in 28 buildings near the proposed Girgaum and Kalbadevi metro stations. These buildings will be demolished permanently to create free space for ventilation shafts and entry-exit points for underground metro stations.
The MMRC also plans to implement a cluster redevelopment scheme, in which adjoining buildings that are in a dilapidated condition will be redeveloped along with the project-affected buildings.
