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The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has issued a tender for the redevelopment of Om Namo Sujalam Sufalam Society, a slum colony in Santacruz East with nearly 1,000 tenements. Efforts to redevelop the site began 39 years ago but faced setbacks due to builder disputes and lack of developer interest. Situated near the Western Express Highway and Bandra Kurla Complex, the colony covers over 21,000 square metres. The latest tender includes a 46-month deadline, revised from the previous 24 months, with a INR 20 crore bank guarantee. Developers with experience in projects worth INR 200 crore or more are eligible to bid.
The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has invited bids for the redevelopment of the Om Namo Sujalam Sufalam Society, a slum colony in Santacruz East comprising nearly 1,000 tenements, including residential, commercial, and industrial units. Efforts to redevelop the colony were initiated nearly 39 years ago, but the project faced delays due to disputes between builders, lack of interest among developers, and the cancellation of an earlier contract. Advertisement
Situated adjacent to the Western Express Highway and close to the Bandra Kurla Complex commercial hub, the colony spans 21,882.15 square metres (sq m). Of this, 16,072.07 sq m is occupied by tenements, with the remaining 5,810.08 sq m comprising open land. As per the tender, the total built-up area of the redevelopment can be four times the plot size.
The colony currently has 697 residential, 27 commercial, and 15 industrial tenements. Additionally, there are 128 apartments in two buildings constructed by the slum residents themselves during the late 1990s under a self-development model. The colony also includes four balwadis, four welfare centres, nine society offices, eight social amenities, and a community hall.
The new developer, to be selected three days after the bidding closes later this month, will need to rehabilitate the owners of all 990 structures. A senior SRA official noted that the developer will not need to secure consent from the majority of the tenement owners, as the SRA itself has floated the tender.
The colony's residents first resolved to pursue redevelopment in 1985 and began searching for a developer. However, after failing to secure one for over a decade, 128 tenement owners constructed two buildings independently in the 1990s, leaving the rest of the colony untouched. Subsequently, two developers, Susme Builders and J G Developers, became involved, resulting in prolonged litigation. In 2018, the Supreme Court removed both companies and directed the SRA to float a tender with a two-year project deadline.
That same year, the SRA launched its first-ever bid for a redevelopment project but received no responses due to a INR 200 crore bank guarantee requirement, which was deemed excessively high. The guarantee was later reduced to INR 20 crore, and the project was awarded to a joint venture between DB Realty and Keystone Realtors. However, the contract was cancelled following the pandemic as work had not commenced.
In mid-2022, the SRA issued a fresh tender but failed to attract bidders. The authority then approached the court, arguing that the two-year deadline was unrealistic. Although its plea was rejected, the residents later petitioned the Supreme Court, which recently approved their request and extended the deadline to 46 months.
In the latest tender, the project timeline has been revised to 46 months, and the bank guarantee remains at INR 20 crore. Only developers who have successfully completed projects valued at INR 200 crore or more are eligible to participate.
In conclusion, the redevelopment of Om Namo Sujalam Sufalam Society aims to resolve decades-long delays, providing modern housing for residents. With revised timelines and eligibility criteria, the SRA seeks credible developers for the project. Strategically located near major urban hubs, the site holds significant potential for transformation, marking a new chapter in Santacruz East's slum rehabilitation efforts.
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