Slum-bai

Slums of Mumbai
To loathe or not to loathe the slums of Mumbai…?

Author: Jaiswal Piyush B.

College: Lokmanya Tilak Institute of architecture
and Design Studies, Mumbai University
Publication Date: March 08, 2019
pjaiswal1510@gmail.com
 Slum-bai | Piyush B. Jaiswal

1 Abstract
The publication Slum-bai means Slums of Mumbai, which covers the
major aspects of informal dwelling or slums of Mumbai, which helps
us to know about the informal community settlement in Mumbai,
especially in, Dharavi. Having an idea that, how to tackle these
informal areas of housing and enterprise, settled by respective
communities, by catering them an ample amount of standard of living
without disturbing their daily routine. The aim for having Slum-bai as
a subject is to generate new ideas and concepts for architects and
planners for designing sustainable combination of urban uses-by
providing or serving affordable housing, livelihoods, improvising their
standard of living with sanitation and recreation means.

The idea is to change the perception about Dharavi being just a slum…
Dharavi is much more. In fact, Dharavi market hopes to give the
craftsperson here a chance to sell across the world.
2 Introduction

Mumbai, India’s Financial and

Commercial capital, home to over 18.5
million people packed into just over 233
square miles (603 kilometers square).
It has been known for its great wealth
as well as poverty. While, the city has
some of the most expensive real estate
transactions of the country catering
them the luxurious life; whereas it
even, houses the most slum dwellers or
housing of any other city globally
which is not even sufficient to provide
the basic services and facilities. As the
values of lands are increasing day by
day, the developers have begun to come
up with creative ways to redevelop
Dharavi, a slum with a “Goldmine”
location, since it is located to the core of
the city.
Dharavi, was originally a marshy
waste-lands, home to kolis (a
traditional fishing community) and
kumbhars (a traditional potter
community), at the tip of Parel island.
Location of Dharavi, depicted on Mumbai
map page. 1
 Slum-bai | Piyush B. Jaiswal

Since, towards 20th century as the

value of the land has been grew
rapidly in past few decades, hence
more requirement and re-claimation
of land from sea, took place, and
therefore gradually, a singular
peninsula was formed from seven
islands. Dharavi, located
approximately 12 miles (20km) from
the city, was once well outside the
centre of commercial, residential and
industrial activity. It was founded in
1883. Dharavi is a well-established as
one of the world’s most significant
informal community which requires a
Map of Dharavi
critical imagination for a better urbanized future
of Mumbai, from slum-bai. Dharavi, welcoming all castes and labourers
from the countryside, apart from discrimination with respect to community
and natives.

1.1 Manuscript Body

As Dharavi was growing simultaneously with the spark of Mumbai. Beyond
the interventions or without the support of local authorities prevailing their;
the residents of Dharavi, started to improvising their standard of living and
economy by having small-scale industry as their own employment. And,
hence a number of micro-industrial, and manufacturing units of leather,
textiles and tailoring, food, pottery, etc. mushroomed. Dharavi grew as
polluting factories moved out and rural Indians migrated to Mumbai in
search of jobs. Nearly all of the land Dharavi was built on is considered
public land, but individuals continued to build tiny shacks to live and work
in, with the government turning a blind eye. Developers and the government
have begun looking at ways to redevelop the area to capture the value of the
land. To do this, creative ways need to be found to house the hundreds of
thousands of current residents. Any current resident of Dharavi that can
prove residency since 2000 would be provided a new, 355 square foot (33-
square meter) home for free. In return, the additional space would be used
for luxury high rises that will deliver large financial returns. This model,
which would finally introduce basic sanitation, electricity, and clean water
to the area.
The current plan was put forth by American-trained architect Mukesh
Mehta. His plan, accepted by the government in 2004. But due to many

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 Slum-bai | Piyush B. Jaiswal

internal and political obstacles and grievances of the local residents, it got
post-pone and hence rejected.

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 Slum-bai | Piyush B. Jaiswal

Slums of Dharavi, completely altering with sky-scrapers of its surrounding

The largest obstacle has been massive opposition from current residents who
feel the proposed amount of space is simply not enough. There is also no
clearly defined space planned for all the current “informal” businesses in
place, raising fears from within the slum that their sources of income would
be shut down. Another issue has been the slow nature of finding a builder for
the redevelopment. To address the grievances of slum dwellers, the city and
state governments invited ideas from the global community. All current
landowners, including the government, need to release ownership rights to a
trust that is governed by former landowners, community members and
neighbourhood associations. This method allows the community to have a
voice in the future of its land, while also solving land ownership issues that
have slowed down the project.

2 Conclusion:
Hence, concluding with the study of Slum-bai, according to the data and
researches, our perception towards Dharavi is not to clear the slums; instead
providing them, a good standard of living, since they generate a good
amount of revenue of Mumbai; and have increased the GDP of Mumbai.

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 Slum-bai | Piyush B. Jaiswal

Sources:
From website:
Mashian S, (2018, March 20). Dharavi: When a slum becomes a goldmine.
Retrieved from http://blog.realestate.cornell.edu
Tovrov D, (2011, September 12). 5 Biggest slums of world. Retrieved from
http://www.ibtimes.com

Miscellaneous source:
Gupta Megha, (2014, August 31). Dharavi’s Digital Leap, The Economic
Times: Magazine special report
Manasi Phadke, (2016, January 18). Dharavi redevelopment, The Indian
Express.
Naresh Kamath, (2017, June 27). Fresh Bid to redevelop Asia’s biggest slum
Dharavi, Hindustan Times.
Mukherjee A and Bharucha N, (2011, August 13). Reality Bites: House in
Mumbai slums for Rs 40 Lakh, Times of India

From Books:
Mehrotra, R, Joshi P and Vora A. Mumbai Reader 15. Urban Design Research
Institute, 2014, December.
UDRI. Reinventing Dharavi: An idea compendium. Urban Design Research
Institute, 2017, September 11.

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