The BDD chawl redevelopment programme reached a major milestone in Mumbai on Friday as 557 families from the N. M. Joshi Marg area in Lower Parel received keys to new homes built by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).
The handover took place in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. The families, who had been living in ageing British-era BDD chawl buildings, received 500-square-foot homes equipped with modern facilities. The redeveloped homes are being provided in place of the earlier rooms, which measured around 160 square feet, according to the report.
Shinde, who handles the state housing department, said the BDD project would be completed on schedule and that the government had not halted the redevelopment work. He said the distribution of homes across the wider project would be completed by December 2029.
The BDD chawls are among Mumbai’s most significant redevelopment projects because they involve large communities living in ageing, densely built housing stock in central parts of the city. The programme has been under discussion for years, with the condition of the old structures and the relocation and rehabilitation of residents forming central challenges for implementation.
The latest handover covers the N. M. Joshi Marg cluster in Lower Parel. The new homes offer substantially larger floor areas than the earlier rooms and are being transferred to eligible residents with ownership rights, as described in the report. The ceremony also included the distribution of homes to 140 sanitation workers at a separate event.
Shinde also announced a reduction in the stated price of police housing from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 15 lakh, saying the decision followed demands from residents. He added that the difference between current construction costs and other suggestions would be considered positively. He described MHADA as an institution focused on providing quality housing and facilities rather than making profits.
The minister linked the housing programme to the state’s wider plans for Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. He said the government aims to build between 20 lakh and 25 lakh homes over the next 15 to 20 years, including affordable and rental housing and dedicated facilities for women workers, students, senior citizens and former mill workers.
The event was attended by Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar, Legislative Council Deputy Chairman Sachin Ahir, ministers Ashish Shelar and Pankaj Bhoyar, Member of Parliament Milind Deora, Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde, Deputy Mayor Sanjay Ghadi, legislators Sunil Shinde and Manisha Kayande, Shiv Sena national spokesperson Shaina NC and MHADA Vice-President Sanjeev Jaiswal. The next stated milestone for the BDD redevelopment programme is the completion of home distribution by December 2029.
