Gone is the old Laxmi Chhaya, and with it, 30 lives. A portion of the Borivili building collapsed more than a year and two months ago. The survivors lost their belongings in the debris, but retained their spirit. Result: a new-look Laxmi Chhaya is set to rise.

On the auspicious occasion of Vijaya Dashami on Thursday, residents of the building - many of whom lost their dear ones in the tragedy - performed bhoomipujan at the site to mark the beginning of redevelopment work.

Dilip Popat, a resident and a member of the core committee for the building redevelopment, told DNA that the new structure would be completed in two years. Spread across 55,000 sq ft (approx), the new building would comprise two wings - each of ground plus eight floors. There would be commercial spaces on ground and first floors. Over them would be a stilt and six residential floors.

The old structure had ground plus six floors. Developer Vasanji Vora of the DK Associates said that the top six floors would house the 48 existing residential families. The ground floor would be for the existing 25-odd commercial occupants.

"Commercial spaces on the first floor would be up for sale," he added. There will be a memorial, remembering those who died in the collapse, in the open space on the buildings first floor, said Popat.

Many residents are still to come to terms with the loss of their dear ones, but on Thursday they found a reason to smile. With the developer limiting his share of area to the commercial space on the first floor, all the existing residential and commercial occupants of the building have been promised bigger accommodations.

"Each of us will get 8% more area than what we had before," said Popat. The ground and first floors will have open spaces for recreation, said Vora.

The municipal corporation has already given a formal approval for the redevelopment work. Vora said that work on would begin in a few days.

"We will first have to pull down the wing that still stands. The families residing there would be paid rentals for shifting to an alternate accommodation. The developers have promised to get the work done in two years," Popat said.

Durgesh Kothari, who lost four members of his family in the tragedy, said that it was very heartening to see the building being revived. "Nothing will ever make up for the loss that I suffered that fateful day. But we are keen to salvage whats left."

Another resident, Mulchand Chedda, said that redevelopment of the building would surely give solace to the departed souls.
Source : DNA