Mumbai: The decks have finally been cleared to hand over two key bus depots in Mumbai for the multi-crore Dharavi redevelopment project in the city. The BEST Undertaking on Tuesday cleared a proposal to transfer bus depots at Dharavi and Kalakilla for the project.Sources said that the land transfer will clear the path for the massive slum rehabilitation initiative, with BEST slated to receive two state-of-the-art, multi-storey replacement depots within the next five to seven years. The Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots are located on an 11.58-acre plot. Sources said that in the last week of April, the private contractor submitted a draft proposal for temporary and permanent arrangement for bus depots.“To ensure uninterrupted bus service, the contractor will construct a temporary (makeshift) bus depot on the existing plot. Also, in place of the existing bus depots, they will construct two new permanent bus depots at different locations having a total capacity of 470 buses along with necessary infrastructure facilities,” said the BEST proposal, which got clearance from panel members.Explaining further, sources said that out of the total 11.58 acres of land of the existing Dharavi and Kalakilla bus depots, a temporary bus depot will be constructed on 6.17 acres of land. This can accommodate parking of 145 buses.The issue will be to accommodate remaining buses at the temporary space as the two depots have capacity to hold 288 buses. Panel member Nitin Nandgaonkar pointed out at the meeting that the temporary arrangement should have adequate facilities and amenities for BEST staffers such as rest rooms, toilets, changing rooms, etc.A senior BEST official informed the panel: “The new temporary depots will be closer to the old ones and will cater to both eastern and western suburbs of the city. It will ensure that daily bus services remain less impacted during the construction phase.”After the complete construction of the permanent bus depot, the remaining 5.41 acres of land will be handed over for the Dharavi Redevelopment Project. Two new bus depots will be constructed for BEST Undertaking.Out of these, one new bus depot will be built on an estimated area of 8,602 sq m that will have space for parking of up to 275 buses. The second depot will be constructed on an area of 10,544 sq m, which again can park up to equal number of buses.Sources said that in the new bus depot building, buses will be parked on the lower floor, while the ground floor and other upper floors will include the bus depot offices and the necessary facilities. It will be multi-storeyed, which will enable construction of commercial properties as well on the upper floors. “The work of both the new bus depots is expected to be completed within seven years after the work order is given to NMDPL,” said a BEST official.If the construction of new bus depots is not completed within the stipulated period, penalty will be levied as per the rules mentioned in the Development Agreement signed between Dharavi Redevelopment Project/Slum Rehabilitation Authority (DRP/SRA) and Adani Group in June 2024.
