A proposed project of 12,000 PMAY homes in Kongaon, Bhiwandi, for Mumbai’s dabbawalas and cobblers has run into an affordability concern, with the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association seeking prices between Rs 15 lakh and Rs 20 lakh instead of the expected Rs 25 lakh.
The homes are being planned through a private developer under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. Of the 12,000 units, 5,000 are intended for dabbawalas and 7,000 for members of the cobbler community, according to the report. An agreement has been signed with the developer, while the authorities and the developer are working on the permissions required to take the project forward.
The project’s foundation stone is expected to be laid in January 2027, and construction work is also being planned to begin during the month. The project details were provided by Ramdas Karanwade, president of the Mumbai Tiffin Box Suppliers Association.
The homes are expected to measure approximately 500 square feet. Their final prices have not yet been fixed, but they may be offered at around Rs 25 lakh. The association has asked the housing department and the developer to announce the prices at the earliest so that prospective beneficiaries can assess whether they can afford the units.
Karanwade said the financial condition of many dabbawalas would make it difficult for them to purchase homes priced above Rs 20 lakh. The association has therefore demanded that the final price be kept within the Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh range.
The housing demand reflects the difficulty faced by many dabbawalas in purchasing homes in Mumbai, where housing costs have remained beyond the reach of several low-income and informal-sector workers. Many dabbawalas continue to live in rented accommodation, according to the report, despite having served the city for more than 130 years.
Dabbawala organisations have been pursuing the demand for affordable homes with the state government for several years. The decision to develop homes in Kongaon followed this continued representation, with the project now intended to provide ownership housing outside Mumbai’s high-cost housing market.
The proposed location in Bhiwandi also places the project within the wider housing geography of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where lower land and construction costs have encouraged the development of large housing projects beyond the core city. For the intended beneficiaries, however, the project’s practical value will depend on the final price, financing conditions and the process for allotment.
The association is now awaiting a decision from the housing department and the developer on the final pricing. The next stated milestone is the proposed January 2027 foundation-stone ceremony, subject to the completion of the required permissions and project preparations.
