MUMBAI, Aug. 6 -- In the heart of Bhendi Bazaar, where narrow, dimly lit alleys service one of the oldest parts of the inner-city, residents now speak a different language: one of "sukoon" (peace) and "shukoor" (gratitude). These two words capture the transformation unfolding in Dawoodi Bohra Mohalla, a place once synonymous with crumbling buildings, encroached streets, and shared toilets. By the end of 2025, over 1,280 families will move into Al Ezz - 53-storey twin towers that occupy 1.34 acres and whose name means 'honour' in Arabic. A mixed-use development, the towers will also house 260 shops, and will replace 23 dilapidated buildings from the old Bhendi Bazaar. Al Ezz is one of six multi-storey towers being built as part of one of India's largest urban renewal projects. Covering 16.5 acres, the cluster redevelopment project is helmed by the Saifee Burhani Upliftment Trust (SBUT). Launched in 2009, it will eventually rehouse 3,200 families and 1,250 shops, once housed in around 250 dilapidated buildings. Moving into Al Ezz will be a life-changing event for Tasneem Rajkotwala, who recalls her earlier life in a 150-sq ft home with a shared toilet. "We're so happy to finally have flats on ownership, a space that's ours. There's so much sukoon, and we're filled with shukoor for our Syedna, who gave us this better life." Rajkotwala's new home is a 375-sqft, one-bedroom apartment with a private bathroom. She will have access to elevators, round-the-clock water supply, and a garbage chute to segregate dry and west waste on every floor. The contrast with her past life is striking. "Earlier, we had no privacy. There was no proper garbage disposal, no parking space, and water had to be filled early in the morning." Initiated in 2009 by the late Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community, the SBUT project is revolutionary not only due to its scale but also because it preserves the culture and social ethos of the old settlement, giving its identity new expression in a modern avatar....