Exclusive Interview: Part 2
The studio went silent after that. She accused even the media channel of being silent afterall.
And, they were silent. Media channels don't make much profit. So, they get money from 'other' means, most often the government. Before 'Godi media', Congressi media was, and is prevalent.
They even import German media, thinking that everything German is high quality.
"Please ask the next question Ravish ji. I guess I got a bit heated there."
Shreya said after drinking some water.
"Ahem! You are contesting Maharashtra Vidhan Sabha elections from Dharavi in Mumbai, which is known as Asia's biggest slum. In your manifesto too, you wrote about redevelopment of Dharavi, in which every resident will be given a flat in high rise buildings with the same or bigger square feet area.
Before you, almost all MLA's from Dharavi had made similar promises. But it never appeared on Manufesto.
We recently went there to talk with the people living there. Most of them were skeptical.
They had questions like, how will you make sure that they get their flats? Isn't it possible that some people will be left out? And during the constructions, how will they be relocated for that time? And how much time will it take?"
"Yes. They are valid questions. But you forgot one question though. When I went to Dharavi disguised as a reporter around three years ago, I was asked a very important question.
If Dharavi is redeveloped, where will people get low rent houses?
Mumbai's rent is going through the roof.
Now, I will answer all the questions in full detail.
First of all, a survey will be done to collect every data. After that survey is finished, another survey will happen to match the data. By another body. During both surveys, you will receive documents with your details, your familiy details, how much area does your house has? Are you living on rent or you are the owner. If someone still gets left out in both surveys, you can directly come to our office to complain. I will make sure to fire those guys who left you out of survey and sue them on your behalf.
And when the surveys are going on, I am going to sit in front of the Airport regulating authority in Delhi to increase the height limit of buildings. And I will not move from there until they raise the stupid limit.
Mumbai can't expand like other cities. It is almost an island. Horizontal growth is not possible. And until we make much taller buildings, and don't make more Mumbai level cities in Maharashtra, the rent is going to rise indefinitely.
Most of the houses in Dharavi are one, two, or atmost three storeys from what I saw. The buildings will be atleast 30-40 floors. The base will be larger, but all the residents can be provided homes with all the facilities in atmost 2-3 floors.
As for the buildings, a new company will be founded, and I plan it to have a partnership with Singapore's government company that has managed to make the most efficient housing apartments in the world.
Mumbai and Singapore are very similar. As Maharashtra's manufacturing will boom, the Mumbai port will get huge traffic. I don't know how to build houses. Most of the people in India don't. So it doesn't harm that we get the expertise from an expert.
The small scale shops will not be affected. Instead, proper spaces will be provided, and the market of Dharavi will boom exponentially instead.
And most importantly, we will solve Mumbai's gangster and mafia problem. They are mostly concentrated in Dharavi, and has been playing a cancerous role in Bollywood. Aspiring actresses won't have to live in fear of exploitation.
All I ask the people to trust us for 10 years to develop Dharavi, and Mumbai as a whole. And raise voice in case of justice.
Though, don't be that guy which destroyed Mumbai's textile industry for his political gains. Protest against injustice, not against development.
Anyway, I have been investing in many American companies, so I have some influence in bringing them into Maharashtra and Karnataka for manufacturing. And high density areas like Dharavi will benefit from it.
Also, we will not concentrate everything to Mumbai and Bengaluru. Nagpur, Thane, Pune, Nasik, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Belagavi, and many other cities will be developed so that not everything is congested to the capitals and everything becomes expensive.
People of Dharavi, vote for change. I know politicians from the past have continuously broken your trust, but I won't just say and continue to say. I will work. My political carrer depends on Dharavi. I won't disappoint you."