Mumbai BDD chawl redevelopment gives 556 families new flats
Mumbai witnessed a historic shift in its housing story as over 500 families from the century-old BDD chawls of Worli received possession of their new 500-sq ft apartments in freshly built 40-storey towers. For generations, families lived in cramped 160-sq ft rooms in dilapidated chawls, but the city’s largest public housing redevelopment has now opened doors to spacious, self-contained, and sustainable homes.
The redevelopment, being implemented in partnership between the state housing authority and a private developer, has been valued at more than Rs 17,000 crore. It seeks to rehabilitate nearly 15,600 families across Worli, Naigaum, and NM Joshi Marg. Of the total land parcel, 65 per cent has been earmarked exclusively for residential rehabilitation, ensuring that the project first addresses the long-neglected needs of tenants.
The first phase covers two high-rise towers in Worli, constructed to rehouse residents from D and E wings of the old buildings. Officials confirmed that nearly 9,700 residents across 121 chawls in Worli alone will eventually be relocated into redeveloped flats. Another 3,900 flats are expected to be ready across the three redevelopment sites by the end of the year.
Beyond mere rehabilitation, the project has been designed as a model for future urban transformation. Planners highlight that each complex will function as a self-sufficient township, equipped with schools, hospitals, hostels, gyms, and commercial spaces. Equally significant are the sustainable features: sewage treatment plants, rainwater harvesting systems, and solar panels have been integrated into the masterplan to align with Mumbai’s goals of building eco-friendly, net-zero communities.
Residents who vacated their chawls have either been shifted into transit accommodations or have opted for a rent allowance. Eligible occupants are being compensated with Rs 25,000 per month for 11 months as advance rent until their homes are ready. Officials assure that the housing authority will continue to maintain the rehabilitated buildings for at least 12 years to ensure quality upkeep.
Importantly, the project has also incorporated heritage preservation into its blueprint. While greenfield towers will dominate the new skyline, one of the original chawl structures will be retained and converted into a museum, and iconic public grounds such as Jamboree Maidan and Ambedkar Maidan will remain untouched, preserving the historical and cultural memory of the BDD settlements. Urban experts view this redevelopment as a landmark step in equitable housing: by replacing unsafe, congested housing with sustainable high-rises, the project addresses both social justice and ecological priorities. For the families who have now turned their keys in newly built apartments, the transformation is more than physical—it represents a generational leap from survival housing to dignified, future-ready living.
