557 BDD Chawl Families Receive New 500 Sq Ft Homes in Mumbai

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Friday said 557 families from the BDD Chawls had received keys to newly constructed homes under the major redevelopment project being implemented by MHADA in Mumbai.

The keys were distributed in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, marking another phase of the long-running BDD Chawl redevelopment programme.

The 557 flats are part of the first phase of the N.M. Joshi Marg-Lower Parel redevelopment, according to MHADA-linked reporting.

Families Move From 160 Sq Ft Rooms to 500 Sq Ft Flats

Shinde said residents who had previously lived in homes measuring around 160 square feet were now receiving apartments with approximately 500 square feet of carpet area.

MHADA has said the new rehabilitation homes are 2BHK apartments provided free of cost with ownership rights to eligible beneficiaries.

Shinde described the handover as an emotional moment for families who had waited years for larger and more modern homes.

557 Flats Spread Across Three Wings

The first phase of the N.M. Joshi Marg project includes seven residential wings.

Of these, 557 completed flats across three wings were ready for handover, while construction of another 684 flats in the remaining wings was reported to be in its final stages.

The broader project will ultimately include 14 rehabilitation wings across two phases and cover 2,560 tenements at the Lower Parel site.

Shinde Says All Eligible Residents Will Receive Homes

Speaking at the event, Shinde said the government intended to ensure that all eligible BDD Chawl residents received their homes through subsequent phases.

He said:

“Through subsequent phases, we will ensure that all eligible BDD Chawl residents receive their homes by December 29.”

The timeline represents the state government’s stated target for completing further allotments.

One of Mumbai’s Largest Redevelopment Projects

The BDD Chawl redevelopment Mumbai programme covers major locations including Worli, Lower Parel and Naigaon.

Across these sites, the redevelopment involves 195 chawls spread over roughly 86 acres, with rehabilitation planned for more than 15,000 residential and non-residential tenements.

The chawls were originally constructed in the early 20th century and housed generations of textile mill, railway and port workers.

Shinde Recalls Freedom Fighters’ Association With BDD Chawls

Shinde also highlighted the historical significance of the BDD Chawls, noting that they had been associated with several participants in India’s freedom movement.

He said redevelopment was therefore not merely a housing project but also involved communities with a long social and political history in Mumbai.

Modern Amenities Included in New Buildings

The new rehabilitation towers include facilities such as:

• Vitrified tile flooring

• Aluminium windows

• Granite kitchen platforms

• Fire-fighting systems

• CCTV surveillance

• Passenger and fire lifts

• Basement parking

• Solar-energy systems

• Rainwater harvesting

The redeveloped complex is also planned with a hospital, welfare centre and sewage-treatment infrastructure.

Shinde Calls Handover a ‘Moment of Great Joy’

Shinde said the timing of the allotment around Diwali made the occasion especially significant for beneficiaries.

He said owning a larger home was a major aspiration for families who had spent generations in small rooms and described the expressions of happiness among residents as “heartwarming.”

MHADA Continues Phased Redevelopment

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority is implementing the redevelopment through its Mumbai housing arm.

For the second phase at N.M. Joshi Marg, eligibility has already been finalised for around 1,200 occupants from 15 chawls, according to project reporting.

The BDD Chawl redevelopment Mumbai project is expected to continue through phased rehabilitation as more towers are completed and remaining eligible residents are shifted into new permanent homes.