Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust

Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT) is a non-profit organization established in 2009 to undertake one of urban India's largest makeover projects of sheer magnitude and impacting around 20,000 people.

The redevelopment project was, envisioned by 52nd Dā'ī al-Mutlaq of Dawoodi Bohras community, Mohammed Burhanuddin. Today, the redevelopment of Bhendi Bazaar continues under the guidance of 53rd Da'i al-Mutlaq.

The project spans over an area of 16.5 acres comprising decrepit buildings, 3,200 families, and 1,250 shops. It is transforming into a modern and elaborate sustainable development embodying 11 new towers, wider roads, modern infrastructure, open spaces, commercial areas, among others. Of the total 3,200 families covered in the project, nearly all families have vacated their premises to facilitate the ambitious construction work.

In 2019, the first phase of the project was completed with the construction of the high-rise Al Sa’adah Towers.

As of February 2021, after completing the Phase 1 work of the Bhendi Bazar redevelopment project, the SBUT has initiated the Phase 2 construction work.

Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin inaugurated the newly reconstructed Saifee Masjid and its complex on the eve of Milad al Nabi in September 2023. This complex known as Sector 1 was demolished and redeveloped with modern sustainable amenities and a commercial shopping arcade.

Project Features

Bhendi Bazaar Makeover

Currently, most of Bhendi Bazaar’s residents are tenants who occupied less than 300 sq. ft. rooms in old, dilapidated buildings with common toilets. Regardless of the area they occupy, each legitimate tenant will get ownership of a minimum 350-sq-ft flat with its own kitchen and bathroom.

Environmentally Sustainable Practices

The old structures suffered from a number of infrastructural issues including outdated sanitation, lack of fire & safety measures and crammed spaces. Once completed, each sector will be a model for sustainability, a key element that was central to the redevelopment planning process. Each sector is planned to promote a sustainable way of living and includes practices like sewage treatment plant, Central Garbage Disposal System (CGDS), rain-water harvesting, green cover and solar lighting within the towers and public areas, among others.

Wider Roads and Parking Facilities

The narrow alleys will give way to 60-foot-wide roads. The planners have taken into account parking requirements, which have been incorporated into the building design to create free spaces, ease traffic and provide convenience to residents.

Supporting Commercial Success

A key aspect of the redevelopment project is to boost employment opportunities and wider socio-economic benefits for the people in the area and beyond. Post completion of the first phase, Al Sa'adah, all 128 commercial owners have returned to the new premises and have set up their shops.

History

Bhendi Bazaar is situated near Crawford Market in South Mumbai. It was developed to house male migrant workers who thronged to Mumbai amidst the rising commercial activities due to the mushrooming mills in the Bombay Presidency. Over the years, several families sheltered themselves in the box-sized dormitories with space as little as 200 square feet and accompanied by unfathomable living conditions.

The redevelopment project of Bhendi Bazaar concurred with the Government of Maharashtra's amending of the cluster redevelopment policy in 2009. The project was conceptualized then, as an effort to uplift the lives of the people of Bhendi Bazaar and replace the dilapidated buildings with modern and safe infrastructure.

Timeline

Temporary Accommodation

While revamping the Bhendi Bazaar, the trust has taken various initiatives and created residential and commercial transit so that the people get a good quality living environment in their new homes. The interests of the businesses of sub-cluster 1 and 3 were also taken into consideration, as over 299 commercial residents were affected when construction began in the first phase of the redevelopment. The commercial transit is located 0.5 km away from the project area in the busy street of Noor Baug. When construction work was initiated, some of the residents were accommodated in transit facilities at Anjeer wadi in Mazgaon, Ghodapdeo and Chunabhatti.

On 10 October 2013, the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust inaugurated a temporary commercial transit which would be displaced because of the construction activity in phase 1 of the cluster redevelopment project. The clusters 1 and cluster 3 that would undergo construction, are close to the mausoleum, Raudat Tahera, together housing over 299 shops.

A key issue raised by several shop owners during the transition period was the loss of footfalls and business during the transition period. To safeguard the interest of businesses that have been in Bhendi Bazaar for decades, the Trust built a temporary on-site commercial transit facility right in the heart of the project. The idea was to minimize displacement and curtail inconveniences to the area's shop owners while helping the businesses adapt to the street shopping environment that has been propose.

Saifee Masjid Complex

Ghurrat ul Masajid, also known as Saifee Masjid, is a Dawoodi Bohra mosque in South Mumbai, Bhendi Bazaar. It was constructed in the early 20th century by Syedna Taher Saifuddin.

Al Sa'adah Towers

Al-Sa'adah Towers are the first two rehab high-rise towers of the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Project to be built. Al-Sa’adah, which symbolizes 'prosperity', is the first example of the Trust's promise to the people of Bhendi Bazaar. The construction of the towers began in 2016 and was completed in 45 months with one 36 storeys high and the other 41 storeys high.

All 610 families have been handed possession of their new flats and 128 business owners have set up their shop at the new premises. The rehabilitation of the families and businesses involved was taken care of by the Trust at no expense to any of the returnees.

Gallery

File:FICCI Award.jpg, SBUT representatives receiving the 'Smart Infrastructure' award at FICCI's 5th Smart Urban Innovation Awards in New Delhi.
File:Al-Sa'adah Podium.jpg, The new podium level of Al Sa'adah building.
File:Bhindi Bazar.jpg, Aerial view of Bhendi Bazaar.
File:SBUT honoured with the prestigious ‘Smart City Project 2016’.jpg, SBUT honoured with the prestigious 'Smart City Project' Award in 2016 at Vigyaan Bhavan in New Delhi.
File:Old building of Bhindi bazar.jpg, The old dilapidated structures of Bhendi Bazaar.

References

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Indian urban planners
2009 establishments in Maharashtra
Organizations established in 2009
Organisations based in India