August 13, 2025: Worli’s BDD chawl redevelopment project, one of Asia’s largest urban renewal initiatives, has reached a significant milestone. As part of the first phase, 556 newly constructed flats will be handed over to eligible residents on August 14, MHADA announced.
“The keys of the flats will be handed over by CM Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday during an event at 11 am. The distribution ceremony will take place at Yashwant Natya Mandir in Matunga West in Mumbai,” the statement said. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with Mumbai Suburban Guardian Ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Ashish Shelar, Dr. Pankaj Bhoyar, and senior MHADA officials, are expected to attend.
The project spans about 86 acres and encompasses roughly 207 chawls across Worli, Parel (N M Joshi Marg), and Naigaon. In total, 15,593 families are slated for rehabilitation, with 9,689 residents from 121 old chawls in Worli alone.
In this first phase, Building No. 01’s D and E wings have been completed. Each family, previously living in 160 sq ft rooms, will now move into fully furnished 2BHK homes measuring 500 sq ft, provided at no cost and on an ownership basis. The new buildings feature fire safety systems, branded fittings, three passenger lifts, one stretcher lift, and a fire lift.
Additional amenities include one dedicated parking spot per home, an eco-friendly seventh-floor garden, vitrified tile flooring, granite kitchen platforms, aluminium-framed windows, and high-quality plumbing. The redevelopment also includes a commercial complex, schools, gyms, hospitals, hostels, a sewage treatment plant, solar energy systems, and rainwater harvesting. MHADA will maintain the buildings for 12 years.
Heritage preservation is also a priority, with Jambori Maidan and Ambedkar Maidan protected and a museum planned to showcase the chawls’ history. Under MHADA Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, the project has progressed rapidly, with over 3,989 flats across all three BDD locations expected to be completed by December 2025. Until then, residents have access to temporary transit accommodations or advance rent payments of Rs 25,000 per month for 11 months.
Source: Mid-day
