Slum redevelopment is a complex, yet significant issue globally. Slums are generally informal settlements also known as shanty towns, that are characterized by congested and substandard housing, lack of basic amenities like water and sanitation, and inadequate access to health care and education. Slums are the results of the complex interplay of various socio-economic and urban factors. Some of the key reasons are:
- Rural to urban migration: the significant influx of people from the rural regions to the urban centres results in a rapid increase in the urban population overwhelming the city’s ability to provide basic housing and amenities.
- Lack of affordable housing: Urban areas have higher real estate values which are not affordable for low-income populations. This results in an affordable housing shortage in urban areas.
- Inadequate urban planning: poor urban planning and insufficient investments in public infrastructure contributes to the growth of slums
- Poverty and unemployment: poverty and unemployment is another factor that pushes people towards informal settlements
Slum Redevelopment
Slum redevelopment becomes significant as it has wide socio-economic and urban development implications. Slum redevelopment is crucial for poverty alleviation, social inclusivity, health and well-being, educational opportunities, economic development, and urban development.
It also contributes to crime reduction and long-term sustainable housing goals. It is about taking action to improve social, economic, institutional, and communal activities to improve an area. This involves cooperation among residents, businesses, resident groups, and local and national authorities.
Government initiatives related to slum redevelopment in India include:
Slum Areas Act (1956) aimed at upgrading and clearing slums in Union Territories, empowering officials to label areas as slums, explore improvement options, or eradicate them, Integrated Housing & Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) that combines VAMBAY and NSDP schemes to offer adequate housing and infrastructure to slum dwellers, Interest Subsidy Scheme for Housing the Urban Poor (ISHUP) that provides interest subsidies to help economically weaker sections purchase or construct homes, Smart City Mission that focused on basic amenities, education, health, IT, e-governance, and sustainable development for urban areas, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) that ensures basic services like water, sewerage, and urban transport to improve life quality, especially for the disadvantaged and National Heritage City Development and Augmentation Yojana (HRIDAY) that seeks to preserve and develop the heritage cities of India holistically. These programs seek to develop the slums effectively and have been improved throughout the years.
The Dharavi Slum Redevelopment Project
The Dharavi slum redevelopment project was the state government’s flagship project for slum rehabilitation. This ambitious project aims to provide affordable housing while integrating commercial spaces, with several lakh square feet of built-up area dedicated to supporting livelihoods. It was a joint venture involving multiple stakeholders. The project is set apart by its innovative architectural design strategies. Vertical housing provides maximum land use in the dense slums with better living conditions. Community spaces like parks, markets, and communal halls are integrated into the design. The design also focuses on preserving Dharavi’s unique character.
Challenges in Slum Redevelopment
Demand-side challenges in slum redevelopment are mainly housing shortage and financial resource access. It is estimated that there are around 19 million housing shortages affecting mainly the low-income families of urban India. Supply-side challenges include urban land scarcity due to rapid urbanization and lack of stringent controls, increased building costs that have risen by 80% in the past decade, delayed approvals, land ownership disputes, redeveloped unit misuse, overburdened infrastructure, etc..
Another major issue in slum upgrading is that slums are not homogenous. There are diverse interests that consist of a slum. The understanding of these elements and the integration of these in the planning and designing process is crucial in a slum redevelopment project. In some cases, for example, slum upgrading projects have failed because there are people in the community who believe they won’t qualify for an upgrading program because they are not citizens or residents of the country.
There are many factors to be considered for a slum redevelopment project to be successful. The most important are the strong political will from the government side and the by-on attitude from the community side. Slum upgradation is most successful when integrated with other development goals like poverty alleviation, health and education, preservation of historic centres, environmental and sanitation improvement, and citywide transportation and infrastructure expansion.
The future of slum redevelopment includes technological advancements and innovative housing design strategies. GIS mapping and AI-driven urban planning enable precise resource allocation and in-situ redevelopment, as seen in SRA schemes in Mumbai. Redeveloping slums is not just a housing issue; it is a vital step toward creating equitable cities. By addressing challenges comprehensively and integrating technology, architecture, and governance, we can build a fairer urban future for everyone.
Online sources:
Mhtadmin (2023) Slum development in India importance, initiatives, and challenges, Mahila Housing Trust. Available at: https://www.mahilahousingtrust.org/slum-development-in-india-importance-initiatives-and-challenges/#:~:text=By%20providing%20better%20living%20conditions,promoting%20social%20equity%20and%20inclusivity (Accessed: 02 March 2025).
Kaarwan, T. (no date) Slum redevelopment: A focus on rehabilitation projects, Kaarwan blogs. Available at: https://www.kaarwan.com/blog/architecture/slum-redevelopment-a-focus-on-rehabilitation-projects?id=1247 (Accessed: 02 March 2025).
Slums and slum upgrading (no date) Cities Alliance. Available at: https://www.citiesalliance.org/themes/slums-and-slum-upgrading (Accessed: 02 March 2025).
