I am fairly new to this terminology of peer to peer urbanism but do find its application to slum rehabilitation very intriguing. I also find the discussion on Dharavi rehabilitation interesting. I agree with most of the thoughts that have been described above especially with reference to the top down approach to social housing. What I find missing though is a healthy critique on the government’s approach on Dharavi’s redevelopment. The government should be credited in giving momentum to this project, generating interest in the developer community and therefore successfully raising money to realize the project. In addition, the government has also introduced a few checks and balances based on its past experience with slum rehabilitation in Mumbai and elsewhere.

Where I think the government has missed is by taking the entire complexity out of this project and oversimplifying the development process so much so that most of the stakeholders are being kept out of the loop. This is a single project that deals with 220 acres of land in the heart of Mumbai where approximately 8% of its population resides, and the level of research and discussion has been kept minimal. In short, the big picture is missing of seeing this project comprehensively in light of its contributions and impacts on the entire city and in the region.

Mr. Apte’s mention of the resident’s lifestyle and Dharavi’s contributions to the City and urbanism in general is remarkable. It is important to respect this local culture and take the opportunity of redevelopment to enhance the physical environment around it, plug this community seamlessly into rest of the City but all this while accommodating modern real estate needs.

This is also the premise of a redevelopment scheme that we have independently prepared to help the government make more informed decisions. ‘Dharavi Evolution’ is a planning led sustainable approach to redevelop Dharavi which is respectful of the community at the same time is realistic. The masterplan imagines the future Dharavi which is low rise, high in density and economically sustaining. It also provides for new development where it would enjoy its true value and emerge as a new catalyst of growth. We hope that our exercise could initiate a healthy debate and help the government in rethinking its current strategy. ‘Dharavi Evolution’ is available for download at the following link – http://www.dharavievolution.typepad.com/