Self Development Mechanism for Koliwadas and Gaothans

Enabling Community Led Development While Preserving Indigenous Identity

Indigenous settlements such as Koliwadas, Gaothans, and Adivasipadas are among the oldest living neighbourhoods in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Their narrow streets, distinctive architecture, and close knit communities reflect centuries of cultural and social history. Yet, many of these settlements continue to face deteriorating housing conditions, inadequate infrastructure, and planning regulations that fail to recognise their unique character. As part of its broader initiative on empowering indigenous communities, the Urban Design Research Institute (UDRI) developed the Self Development Mechanism for Koliwadas and Gaothans, proposing Special Development Control Regulations (DCRs) that enable residents to upgrade their settlements through community led development while protecting their cultural heritage and traditional livelihoods.

Self Development Mechanism for Koliwadas and Gaothans

Why Existing Planning Regulations Fall Short

Most Development Control and Promotion Regulations are designed for conventional urban neighbourhoods. Indigenous settlements, however, have evolved through different patterns of growth that respond to local geography, livelihoods, and community life.

Without regulations tailored to these unique conditions, residents often face significant challenges in repairing or rebuilding their homes. Informal additions become common, infrastructure continues to deteriorate, and redevelopment frequently threatens the physical character of these historic settlements. The absence of appropriate development rights also limits the ability of indigenous communities to improve their neighbourhoods in a systematic and legally recognised manner.

A Community Led Approach to Development

Drawing on a three year study of eight Koliwadas across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, UDRI proposed a framework of Special Development Control Regulations that responds to the diverse conditions found within indigenous settlements. Rather than applying a single redevelopment model, the framework recognises that different settlements require different planning approaches depending on their heritage value, built form, and community structure.

The proposal is centred on a simple idea. Indigenous communities should have the ability to improve their homes and neighbourhoods without losing the qualities that define their identity.

Three Planning Frameworks for Diverse Settlements

The proposed regulations introduce three complementary development models that can be adapted to different settlement contexts.

The first framework focuses on heritage precincts, where development is guided by regulations that protect historic streets, building heights, roof forms, plot patterns, and architectural character while allowing carefully managed repairs and upgrades.

The second framework addresses non heritage settlements, allowing residents to undertake repairs, reconstruction, and incremental redevelopment through regulations that improve housing conditions while maintaining adequate light, ventilation, open spaces, and pedestrian friendly streets. It provides flexibility for self development without encouraging large scale speculative redevelopment.

The third framework proposes an innovative Community Land Reserve model, where land is collectively managed by the community while individuals retain ownership of their homes. This approach strengthens long term affordability, encourages community participation, and ensures that future increases in land value benefit the settlement as a whole rather than external interests.

Preserving Character While Improving Living Conditions

The proposed regulations recognise that redevelopment should not simply maximise building heights or Floor Space Index. Instead, they seek to preserve the spatial qualities that make indigenous settlements unique.

The framework encourages traditional roof forms, verandahs, porches, balconies, narrow pedestrian streets, and mixed land uses that support both community life and local livelihoods. At the same time, it introduces planning standards that improve structural safety, ventilation, sanitation, drainage, and access without compromising the historic urban fabric.

By combining conservation with carefully planned growth, the proposal demonstrates that heritage preservation and improved living conditions can be pursued together.

Putting Communities at the Centre of Redevelopment

A defining feature of the Self Development Mechanism is its emphasis on community participation. The proposed Community Land Reserve model creates governance structures in which landowners, residents, and independent experts jointly guide redevelopment decisions.

This approach moves beyond conventional redevelopment models by promoting collective ownership, transparent decision making, and long term stewardship of community assets. It also seeks to ensure that redevelopment strengthens existing neighbourhoods instead of displacing the communities that have shaped them for generations.

A New Direction for Indigenous Settlements

The Self Development Mechanism offers an alternative vision for urban redevelopment, one that recognises indigenous settlements as living cultural landscapes rather than areas awaiting replacement. By proposing context specific planning regulations, the project demonstrates how cities can support incremental growth while protecting heritage, strengthening livelihoods, and respecting community identity.

Although developed for Koliwadas, Gaothans, and Adivasipadas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, the principles behind the framework have wider relevance for historic settlements across India. They show that development can be inclusive, community driven, and responsive to local context without sacrificing the cultural character that makes these places unique.