Three sources in the know confirmed to DH that there has been substantial progress in the redevelopment talks between Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and executives from Dubai-based urban revitalisation firm SecLink Technologies Corporation (STC), which is funded by the royal family of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“We are expecting a contract letter to come anytime now. The company held various meetings with the CM, and they were positive. Due to the COVID situation, it might get delayed though,” a source in the company said.
There has been a clamour for the redevelopment of the slums in the wake of coronavirus outbreak, as the country has realised that the threat of the pandemic’s spread can increase manifold in congested slums.
According to the plan, which was approved in 2018, the families in Dharavi will get a minimum 350 sq feet if they are currently living in 300 sq feet homes. Tenements above 350 sq ft would get 405 sq ft homes and above 500 sq ft, the owners will get 35% extra area.
As part of the social responsibility project, the company on Friday wrote to the Maharashtra chief minister offering masks and sanitisers in the township along with random testing.
