Mumbai, which is its facing worst ever infrastructure and housing crisis, now has a ray of hope. The Remaking of Mumbai Federation (RoMF), a voluntary body of associations, has led a delegation to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats (CTBUH) in Shanghai in a bid to attract international investment and partnerships for the planned redevelopment.RoMF's blueprint, besides paving the way for planned redevelopment, envisages between Rs 18,000-50,000 crore funds to be set aside for much-required infrastructure work in Mumbai. The plan proposes the creation of a single planning, regulatory and decision-making body, the City Planning and Management Company (CPMC), on a public-private partnership (PPP) basis. CPMC will oversee the sector-by-sector development of the city, which would focus on 'vertical development', leaving scope for adequate open spaces for public use."Post the 26th July 2005 deluge, it is clear that redevelopment of Mumbai city needs a planned sectoral method. RoMF is looking at the joint venture route for faster and better planned growth, while releasing enough funds for much-needed upgradation of infrastructure," Lalit Gandhi, convenor, RoMF, and CMD, Lok Housing and Constructions, said.With around 20,000 dilapidated buildings identified in Mumbai by RoMF and the state government, the plan looks at increasing the permissible foor space index (FSI), and channeling a larger part of the proceeds than currently allowed to landlords as incentive for development, and also to the state government for upgrading infrastructure and more mass-housing.As a 'pilot project' on the signing of the proposed memorandum of understanding, RoMF has targeted C-ward 2 and C-ward 3 areas, which include the highly congested Chira Bazar and Bhuleshwar areas, RoMF said in a release.RoMF has been involved in talks with various authorities of the Maharashtra government to evolve strategies to work together to rebuild Mumbai.Interaction with leaders in the field of urban development from CTBUH, with its 300 delegate members from across the world, will lend RoMF a strong technical and design expertise, the release said.
