International Conference on Innovations in Engineering and Technology (ICIET'2013) Dec.

25-26, 2013 Bangkok (Thailand)

Development of Urban Poor through Affordable

Housing-Proposal for Surat City, Gujarat, India
Jay Dalal, Palak Agrawal, and Dr Krupesh Chauhan

 housing are the main attributes in the formation of slums.

Abstract—Slum constitutes the most persistent problem of urban Slum springs up and grows on both public and private land.
life. The irresistible desire for shelter compels the poor to encroach Many cities have slums population as high as 35 to 40 %.
on any vacant land. Unhealthy environment, poor housing condition, Rural depopulation and overpopulation with thousands
lack of basic minimum sanitary facilities prevailing in the slum have arriving daily into the cities make slum clearance an uphill
resulted in illness, disease and socially disturbances apart from being struggle. [2]
most unaesthetic spots to the city landscape. The study area is Surat World Bank defines poverty as “Poverty is a pronounced
City of Gujarat, India having population 44.62 Lacs (census 2011)
and area 326.52 sq km. Surat has observed rapid urbanization in last
deprivation in well-being, and comprises many dimensions. It
three decades resulting in population growth in an alarming way includes low incomes and the inability to acquire the basic
which has been accentuated by continuous migration of the rural goods and services necessary for survival with dignity.
population in search of better working opportunities in the city. Poor Poverty also encompasses low levels of health and education,
affordability due to the ever increasing cost of housing in the city has poor access to clean water and sanitation, inadequate physical
degraded the housing conditions, aiding the growth of slums. This security, lack of voice, and insufficient capacity and
paper inculcates in it, the existing scenario and socio-economics of opportunity to better one’s life”. In parts of India, slums are
Urban poor, the issues faced by them in the study area and an known as cherries, bastis, jhuggis, zopadpattis etc. in different
appropriate affordable housing proposal for the urban poor of Surat languages. Slums have been increasing vary rapidly and slum
city.
population has been growing at rates much faster than the
urban population growth rate. Therefore here is pressure to
Keywords—Affordable housing, Development, Slum, Urban
poor
understand the slums in right perspective.
Surat, the second largest city in Gujarat state has a
I. INTRODUCTION dominant role in the sphere of economic and industrial
activities in South Gujarat region. Rapid urbanization has been
A UN Expert Group has created an operational definition
of a slum as an area that combines to various extents the
following characteristics: inadequate access to safe water;
observed in last three decades and many industrial set-ups
have been surfaced in a big way in and around city resulting in
population growth increases in alarming way. The problem
inadequate access to sanitation and other infrastructure; poor
has been accentuated by continuous migration of the rural
structural quality of housing; overcrowding; and insecure
population in search of better working opportunities in the
residential status. Slums are usually characterized by urban
decay, high rates of poverty, illiteracy and unemployment or city.
lack of personal/community land ownership. They are
commonly seen as "breeding grounds" for social problems II. NEED OF STUDY
such as crime, drug addiction, alcoholism, high rates of mental The challenges of sustainable urbanization, urban planning
illness, and suicide. In many poor countries they exhibit high and governance need insights on the policy level. The urban
rates of disease due to unsanitary conditions, malnutrition, and poor population in urban area is alarmingly increasing. To
lack of basic health care. However, some like Dharavi, meet the demand of the future population of Surat city it is
Mumbai, are a hive of business activity such as leather work, very significant to study the appropriate method of planning
cottage industries, etc. Dharavi is often referred to as one of and management which can lead to have the effective facilities
the World’s 30th and Asia’s largest slum, is an urban district for urban poor and as well as homeless people to improve their
in the centre of Mumbai covering approximately 175 hectares quality of life. The main aim of the study is to analyse the
of land. Rapid urbanization, migration of the underprivileged existing situation of urban poor in South and South-East zone
from rural areas to urban centers and acute shortage of of Surat city and from that develop affordability modal for
urban poor.
Jay Dalal is student of B Tech III, Civil Engineering Department, S V
National Institute of Technology, Ichchhanath, Surat 395007 India (phone:
0091 7405374069; e-mail: dalaljay@live.in).
Palak Agrawal, is student of B Tech III, Civil Engineering Department, S
V National Institute of Technology, Ichchhanath, Surat 395007 India (e-mail:
palak.agrawal98@gmail.com).
Dr. Krupesh Chauhan is Associate Professor, Civil Engineering
Department, S V National Institute of Technology, Ichchaanath, Surat
395007India (e-mail: kac@ced.svnit.ac.in).

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IV. OBJECTIVE
To study the existing scenario and socio-economics of
Urban poor in Surat city; thereby develop an appropriate
affordable housing proposal for the urban poor of Surat city.

V. HOUSING SHORTAGES AMONG THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC

CATEGORIES
The Classification of Economically Weaker Section (EWS)
and Lower Income Group (LIG) households are based on
household income. EWS households are those with income up
to Rs. 5000 per month and LIG households are those with
income between Rs. 5001 and 10000 per month. Three-fourths
Fig. 1 Housing shortages in 2012 of the shortage is in the EWS category and another quarter of
the shortage is among the LIG category. [1]
III. STUDY AREA
TABLE I
The study consists with Surat City of Gujarat having DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING SHORTAGE
population 4.462 million [3] and area 326.52 square kilometer. Distribution of Housing Shortage among different
The map is shown in Fig. 2. The city is divided into seven Economic categories as on 2012
zones and in 114 wards of the Municipal Corporation. The Category
study is limited to the South and South-East zone of Surat city. Number (in million) In percentage
The present study addresses the issues of shelter for urban EWS 10.55 56.18
poor in the perspective with Surat city as the case under LIG 7.41 39.44
MIG and 0.82 4.368
investigation. above
Total 18.78 100

Source: Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation

The National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) in the

Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation,
Government of India has released the report of a nation-wide
survey carried out by it during July to December 2002 on the
on the condition of urban slums. For the purpose of survey, a
slum was defined as a compact settlement with a collection of
poorly built tenements, mostly of temporary nature, crowded
together usually with inadequately sanitary and drinking water
facilities in unhygienic conditions. Such an area, for the
purpose of this survey, was considered as “non notified slum”
if at least 50 households lived in that area. Areas notified as by
the respective municipalities, corporation, local bodies or
development authorities are treated as “notified slums”. For
the survey, slums in urban areas only were considered.
The number of people living in slums in India has more
than doubled in the past two decades and now exceeds the
entire population of Britain, the Indian Government has
announced. The number of people living in slums is projected
to rise to 93 million or 7.75 percent of the total population .

VI. PLANNING PROPOSALS

In these planning proposals, The In-Situ redevelopment
model is to be considered for improving quality of life of the
slum dwellers and also they will get better infrastructure
facilities.
A. In-situ proposals
1. Row House
Fig. 2 Study Area (South and South-East zone) In this proposal Row houses are provided for the slum
dwellers. This kind of proposal is useful where small area of

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 International Conference on Innovations in Engineering and Technology (ICIET'2013) Dec. 25-26, 2013 Bangkok (Thailand)

land and less number of slum dwellers are living on particular

slum pocket.

Fig. 3 In Situ Redevelopment of Harijanvas, Vadod Gam, Surat

In this proposal, one living room and one kitchen is

Fig 5 Proposed In Situ redevelopment of Sanjay Nagar 2,
provided. There is no bathroom and toilet in each and every Limbayat, Surat
units. Common bathrooms (5 numbers) and toilets (6
numbers) are provided for every 10 units. Toiles and This site is located in the South-East zone of Surat city.
bathrooms are provided common because that can be useful in There are total 1856 households (slum dwellers) living on the
reduction in cost of every units. [5] existing site which is situated at Limbayat. In this proposal
There are total 72 number of households are living in the total 52 low rise buildings (G+4) are provided with public
existing harijanvas of Vadod gam. In proposal, 9 metre and 7
amenities, 2 gardens and 9 metre wide internal roads. In the
metre wide internal roads are provided. The area of one unit is
public amenities, 2 schools, one shopping complex and one
20.0 squaremetre and construction cost Rs. 8070 per
police station is provided. In low rise building there are total 8
squaremetre (750 rs per square feet) is assumed. So that the
cost of one unit is Rs. 1.6 lakhs. units on each floor so 40 units are in one building. The people
who are living in this existing slum pocket, they will get good
2. Low Rise Apartments housing units and public amenities and the distance from
In this proposal, low rise (G+4) and row houses are home to work place is minimum so that low rise building is
provided on the different sites of existing slum pockets. Low provided on existing slum pocket. In this proposal total area of
rises are provided where the huge number of slum dwellers is site is 6.14 hectare. The land use pattern of proposed site is
living on one slum pockets. Detail drawing and its shown in table II.
specification are described which are shown in fig 5. TABLE II
LAND USE OF PROPOSAL
Particulars Area (Hectares) Percentage
Residential 3.77 61.43
Garden 0.66 10.78
Public Amenities 0.68 11..05
Roads 1.03 16.73
Total 6.14 100

Fig. 4 Current Scenario if Sanjay Nagar 2, Limbayat, Surat

Fig. 6 Unit Plan of Low Rise Building

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 International Conference on Innovations in Engineering and Technology (ICIET'2013) Dec. 25-26, 2013 Bangkok (Thailand)

This is unit plan of low rise which is provided on existing flush doors for other, Under Ground & Over Head tanks with
site of Limbayat in the planning proposal of redevelopment of pump, Internal 12mm smooth lime plaster which make house
existing slum pocket. There is one living room (2.5x4.6 affordable for those who don’t pay more.
metre), kitchen (2.2x2.3 metre) and one bathroom and one The total cost including Construction cost as well as
toilet are provided. There are total 8 units are provided in each Infrastructure cost is shown in table III.
floor. The area of one unit is 23.96 squaremetre. The total area
TABLE III
of existing site is 6.14 hectare and no of units are 2080. TOTAL PROJECT COST
The following infrastructure facilities are divided into two Cost per unit (in
parts one is Physical infrastructure and another one is Social Particulars Total Cost (in lakh)
Lakh)
infrastructure. In this proposal following physical Construction cost 4285 2.06
infrastructure facilities are proposed. Infrastructure cost 478.4 0.23
i. Drainage: Underground R.C.C. pipe drain of
Total cost per unit 2.29
250milimetre diameter. Location of manholes at 30 metre
distance. The connection will be made in existing SMC
trunck line. The comparison between this proposal to the proposal given
ii. Water Supply: Underground pipe line of minimum 150 by SMC is shown in table IV.
milimetre will be laid & connected with SMC main trunck TABLE IV
line. COMPARISON OF SMC PROPOSAL AND PROPOSED PROPOSAL
iii. Streetlight: 6.0 metre G.I. pipe poles at 20 metre distance Particulars SMC proposal Proposed proposal
will be laid with tubelight fittings.
Cost per unit 2.51 lakhs 2.29 lakhs
iv. Roads: All internal roads of 7.5 metre and 9 metre width
will be constructed with residential street type design. Unit area 25 square metre 23.69 square metre
v. Pavement: All surrounding areas will be made Pucca by Road width 7.5 metre 9 metre, 7.5 metre
paver block. Building Structure G+3 G+4
vi. Solid waste collection: In this door to door collection of No of rooms per unit 2 1
garbage will be provided for the slum dwellers. No of units in one
16 40
Whereas the Social Infrastructure like Anganwadis, building
Dispensary, Library, Vegetable Market, Hawkers Space,
Children’s play area, Garden, Junction Development, Table IV shows the total cost of one unit is 2.29 lakhs,
Shopping Centre are provided in proposed redevelopment of where as in SMC proposal of providing EWS housing the cost
Sanjay Nagar, Limbayat. By providing this type of infrastcture of one unit is 2.51 lakhs which is slightly higher. So this
and housing facilities to the slum dwellers, it will be helpful to proposal is an affordable compared to SMC proposal. Another
improve their quality of life. point is in SMC proposal, 2 rooms are provided in each unit
All infrastructure Facilities and their maintenance cost is where as in this proposal, only one room is provided because
provided by the Urban Local Body (Surat Municipal it is sufficient for them.
Corporation) and the 50% of the total project cost is given by So by this way this proposal is better than SMC proposal
Central Government and 20 % of the total project cost is given and is affordable and reliable to the Slum dwellers.
by the State Government. [4]
B. Proposals based on Affordability Criteria
Cost of construction is assumed to be 8600 Rs. per square
metre (Rs. 800 per square feet) so that the construction cost of There are total 118 samples are surveyed in study area so
one unit is Rs. 2.06 lakhs. Total Construction cost of willingness to monthly pay varies at all samples which are
redevelopment site is approximate Rs. 4285 lakhs. It will collected. In this proposal mainly four divisions based on
include materials like fly ash brick, earth quake proof design, builtup area of single unit are proposed which are shown in
R.C.C. frame for doors, mosaic tiles, Kota platform, Brick bat table V.
sitting, Distemper white colour on walls, Nominal plumbing,
Sand faced plaster on outer wall, P.V.C. doors for toilets &
TABLE V
WILLINGNESS OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE TO PAY MONTHLY
EWS Built up Total Cost Contributions Installment/ EMI
Type area(Sq. mt) of Unit GOI share GOG share Beneficiary SMC (Rs. per month for
(Lakhs) per unit per unit (Lakh) (Lakh) 10 years)
(50%) (20%)
(Lakhs) (Lakhs)
In case shifting of hutments
A 16 1.38 0.69 0.28 0.25 0.17 208.33
B 18 1.55 0.775 0.31 0.30 0.165 250
In case allotment through draw
C 20 1.72 0.86 0.344 0.30 0.216 250
D 23.96 2.29 1.145 0.458 0.35 0.337 292

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From table 5 four different types of EWS housing are get a chance of having affordable house, which will be not
proposed based on their affordability. In that there are two only fulfilling one of the basic needs of human survival but
ways to distribute housing which are also pave the way for steady socioeconomic development in
their lives.
1. In Case shifting of hutments
The huts which are situated on the bank of river Tapi, bank VIII. FUTURE SCOPE OF STUDY
of Bay, near by canal road and last but not list is huts on the
The study area is South and South-East zone of Surat city.
reserved plots are shifted first.
Survey at large level shall be conducted to have exact picture
2. Direct allotment through Draw of their socioeconomic and environment condition. System
The hutments which are remaining, these will be shifted Dynamics model can be developed and employed to
through draw system. In this draw system, an advertisement understand the various functions of the slum dwellers in the
will publish in the local news paper than draw will be urban system. Simulation work can also be done in the model
conducted. In that a chit will be given to all hutments. The to arrive at plausible alternative decisions to evolve optimal
housing number is printed on each chit. One by one come and policies and feasible programs for the development of the
open his/her chit and than whatever the number is printed on slum dwellers.
particular chit, the house will be given to that particular
person. So by this way draw system is carried out. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
In this proposal an affordability of a person is low than Sincere thanks to Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) and
house area of 16 and 18 square meter are to be provided and S V National Institute of Technology, Surat for providing
20 square meter and 23.96 square meter size of unit will be preliminary data. Urban Poor Survey helped us to understand
provided for those whose affordability towards shelter is the situation in a better manner.
higher than the previous case. So by this way house is given to
the urban poor based on their affordability. REFERENCES
C. Rental Housing [1] Housing Demand and rehabilitation Choice Behavior of Slum Dwellers:
South Zone, Surat.
There has been a high rate of migration of the poor and [2] Seminar Paper on Slum-The challenge and Response, Department of
EWS households to the cities and towns in search of civil engineering, SVNIT, Guided by Prof. R. N. Shelet and N.C.Shah,
22/9/77
livelihood. This has led to expansion of the existing [3] Government of India, Census of India, Provisional Population Totals,
slums and creation of new ones. To address this problem, New Delhi, 1991.
rental housing blocks are required to be constructed and [4] Government of India, National Housing Policy, 1992.
[5] The New Urbanism, Towards Architecture of Community, McGraw-
maintained for accommodating the above categories of Hill, Inc. Peter Katz.
households. In pursuance of this programme, the government [6] Naik, Ranjit, "Guidelines on How to Take Advantage of Slum
shall provide the land to ULB for creation of affordable rental Redevelopment Scheme with 2.5 FSI-, Bombay, December, 1994.
housing stock.
1. Implementation Mechanism
i. The private developer has to develop the rental housing
block with proper infrastructure facilities like water supply,
electricity, provisions for sewerage and solid waste before
handed it to the government.
ii. The government shall provide land at concessional cost
(government benchmark price) for this purpose.
iii. Only BPL, EWS and LIG categories will be eligible
for staying in the rental houses.
iv. The beneficiary has to pay a rent not exceeding Rs.
1,500/- per month for EWS unit and Rs 2,000 for LIG unit,
as decided by the ULB/agency concerned subject to revision
from time to time.
v. The ULB shall be responsible for Operation Management
of the housing blocks.
vi. 25 % of the rent collected shall be utilized towards the
maintenance of houses and infrastructure.

VII. CONCLUSION
It has been hoped that if the recommended shelter strategies
are implemented based on the affordability level of the slum
dwellers of the South and South-East zone of Surat, they shall

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