Tracing the Much-Needed Change in Bhendi Bazaar

It is a paradoxical sight at the otherwise congested and dilapidated age-old Bhendi Bazaar located in the centre of South Mumbai. Two newly constructed high towers come into sight with a third in its nascent stage, as we stand here on a fine afternoon recently. 

This redevelopment is not new. Back in 2020, Al-Sa'adah – meaning prosperity in Arabic - as part of the redevelopment project here by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT), was handed over to the Bhendi bazaar residents who were living in small units forming the clusters of dilapidated establishments. 

As and when Local Samosa had visited here last, the Al-Ezz, another building, meaning ‘honour’ was in its nascent stage of construction, while an SBUT official offered a heritage food tour, reinforcing the importance of the cultural ethos attached to this community project. 

Not very surprisingly, SBUT, a community project that was started for the redevelopment of this old neighbourhood of Mumbai, has a Singapore-born official who migrated to Mumbai to give back to his community in some form, as he likes to claim while giving us a walkthrough. 

Bhendi Bazaar not only has the majority of Dawoodi Bohras, but also a significant population of Memons, Gujaratis, Sindhis, Parsis, and even Katchis. 

Five years from the first building now, Al-Ezz of Sector 6, in the phase 2 of the project, is ready to be handed over to the residents of the Bhendi Bazaar, the tenants who will return here as owners. “We will hand over a few flats to the families this July,” the project manager of sector 6 says, adding that a total of approximately 1,280 families and 250 businesses will be relocated to Al-Ezz.

“SBUT has received the Part Occupation Certificate (OC) for the Al-Nasr (the third tower, meaning ‘victory’ in Arabic) Shopping Arcade, with construction currently reaching the 12th floor,” another SBUT, who did not wish to be named, says. On the progress about the Al-Nasr, he further says, “While timelines are subject to coordination across various stakeholders and regulatory processes, the project is advancing swiftly and with purpose. We remain confident that progress will continue at this pace, keeping us well on track to deliver a timely outcome.”

Heritage and cultural upholding 

Historically, its origins date back to British rule, when it was a residential complex for the workers engaged in the trade activity in Bombay. Gradually, the area converted into a congested neighbourhood that always featured narrow lanes parallel to those in old Delhi.

With further trade, however, the area became popular for the dominance of the Dawoodi Bohra community with a mix of other cultures. Simultaneously, the historical background also gave it the shape of an entrepreneurial landscape with people mainly involved in the trade. 

The Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment was a result of the quest of the 52nd Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader, the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who envisioned an upliftment of living and working in the area.

As we ascend through the construction hoist of the Al-Ezz, even the century-old Saifee Masjid, reconstructed as part of the first phase, comes into sight. It was inaugurated by the 53rd spiritual head, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin. 

While the mosque stands in its authentic form even after the redevelopment, the additions of the shopping units in front of it also act as a reminder of the needed change. However, this area has maintained its stature of heritage and culture through various forms. 

Our convoy explored the Al-Ezz from the inside, and all that was to identify was how it has also ensured the embodiment of the architectural influences from Egypt. “These are the arches from the Egyptian architecture,” the official says, pointing to the community halls’ fencing. Along with the fencing, and from one of the windows of a flat under construction, we take a glance at the Al-Sa'adah's façade that showcases the jails and the latticework.

Talking about the architecture, the spokesperson states, “The fusion of modern and Islamic architectural styles, including arches, jalis, and latticework, imbues the neighbourhood with a distinctive identity.” 

Where we stand is the community hall in the building that is being built to foster a sense of community and the celebrations during festivals. “Other than Muslims, there are families of other communities also shifting here,” he official further adds.’

In the total budget of the project exceeding 4000 crores, what Al Ezz has done differently than its last building is to add more lifts as a lesson from the crowds during the cosmopolitan festivities. “There was a total of 10 residential lifts in Al Sa'adah (not including service lifts). Al Ezz will have approximately double of that,” the official says. 

Queen’s necklace on one side and the dockyard on the other

A total of 1,280 families and 250 businesses will be relocated to Al Ezz. As the construction is progressing in full swing, the first phase of residential handover in Al Ezz is expected in the latter half of 2025, the spokesperson for the project mentioned. 

“Tower A in Al Ezz has completed 53 levels. Phase 2 construction is progressing in full swing. The first phase of residential handover in Al Ezz is expected in the latter half of 2025. Tower A in Al Ezz has completed 53 levels of construction.”  

As the residents are gearing up to shift, the fate of their houses will be allotted based on their carpet area and the lottery system. From the standard 375 square feet area to as big as a thousand and more, making up for 4 BHKs, these flats have one essential in common – ventilation, at least from one side.

Another attribute unifying all of the residential units is the views of either the Queen’s Necklace or the Mazagaon Dockyard on either side, making it the greatest attraction and achievement in a city where the majority can hardly own a house, with or without the views. 

Currently, the area, from where we stand at the popular Idris Cold Drink – operational since 1987 – might look narrow because of the fencing for the construction of An Nasr, the official mentions how it will be the first wide road to be built in the Bhendi Bazaar. “The problems with the other redevelopment construction are that they did not leave space for the roads, resulting in the continuation of congestion. This will not be the case in our redevelopment plan.” 

For now, the area offers a mixture of old and new outlooks—perhaps both in terms of its geography and visions.