The Hidden Costs of Vertical Slums Rehabilitation: Why High-Rises Fail Mumbai’s Poor

Vertical Slums: In Mumbai, the promise of moving from horizontal slums to vertical rehabilitation towers through government schemes is increasingly being questioned. While the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme (SRS) aims to provide better housing options for the city’s impoverished residents, experts argue that these high-rise buildings often fall short of delivering a true improvement in quality of life. Instead, they bring about new challenges that can exacerbate existing problems.

The Reality of Vertical Living: Financial and Practical Strains

According to Professor Amita Bhide from the Centre for Urban Policy and Governance at Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), transitioning from a slum to a high-rise building is not always beneficial. “Moving to a rehab building offers a lifestyle change that only about 25% of slum dwellers are able to fully adapt to,” Bhide explains. Many residents struggle with the increased financial burden associated with living in these structures, including costs for waste management, electricity, and water. These added responsibilities are particularly burdensome for those engaged in informal economies or activities that require significant space, such as recycling or small-scale trading.

The recent fire at the Jai Bhavani building, which was exacerbated by combustible materials collected by community members, underscores the serious risks associated with these high-rise developments. The incident highlights how the design and maintenance issues in such buildings can directly impact residents’ safety.

High Maintenance Costs and Inadequate Facilities

Shweta Damle, founder of the Habitat and Livelihood Welfare Association, points out the financial strain of maintaining high-rise buildings. “The cost of maintenance goes up significantly, but residents’ incomes do not,” Damle says. Many poor families end up renting out or selling their tenements due to the inability to afford ongoing expenses. Issues like the high cost of lift maintenance and the frequent absence of adequate fire exits further complicate the situation.

Initially, slum rehabilitation projects, such as those undertaken under the Prime Minister’s Grant Programme (PMGP) in Dharavi, featured smaller, three- to four-storey buildings. However, these have evolved into 25-storey towers, significantly increasing the complexity of maintaining safety and quality of life.

Design Flaws and Safety Concerns

Architect and urban researcher Hussain Indorewala highlights several design flaws in these rehabilitation buildings. “The shift from allowing 300 units per hectare to 1,300 units per hectare in recent development plans has resulted in reduced open space and poorer living conditions,” he explains. Narrow corridors, inadequate stairways, and minimal ventilation contribute to a compromised standard of living and heightened safety risks. Indorewala criticizes the current approach under Section 33(10) of the Development Control and Promotion Regulations (DCPR 2034), which allows for higher floor space indices but often at the expense of open spaces and building setbacks.

Planning Failures and the Need for Comprehensive Solutions

Activist and architect P K Das criticizes the current urban planning practices, arguing that a lack of comprehensive vision has led to disjointed and ineffective development efforts. “Planning should be about having a broad, integrated vision, but instead, development has become individualistic and counterproductive,” Das says. He advocates for a master plan that accommodates more sensible building heights and better overall urban design. Das notes that in other major cities like New York and London, planning authorities have a more central role, whereas in Mumbai, bureaucrats and politicians have largely taken over, undermining effective urban planning.

The Way Forward: Rethinking Slum Rehabilitation

The ongoing debate about vertical slum rehabilitation underscores the need for a reevaluation of current practices. While high-rise buildings offer a potential solution to housing shortages, their implementation often fails to address the underlying issues faced by slum dwellers. Comprehensive planning, better design, and more support for residents are crucial to ensure that these projects genuinely improve living conditions rather than merely shifting problems from one form to another.

As Mumbai continues to grapple with its slum rehabilitation efforts, the call for a more thoughtful and holistic approach becomes increasingly urgent. Ensuring that these projects provide real benefits to their intended beneficiaries will require addressing both design flaws and the broader socio-economic challenges that affect the city’s poorest residents.