October 13, 2025: What began as a moment of pride for hundreds of families moving into newly redeveloped BDD Chawl buildings in Worli has turned into frustration over health hazards, incomplete construction, and infrastructure lapses. After Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, inaugurated the new homes on August 14, 173 of the 556 allotted families have shifted in — but many now say their dream homes are causing distress.
Residents have reported mosquito infestations, unclean water tanks, and unhygienic conditions. “I felt good shifting back, but soon after shifting, I got chikungunya. It’s been a month and I’m still unwell. The mosquito menace is terrible. We urge the BMC to take this issue seriously,” said Devanand Dhika (62), who lives on the 40th floor of D Wing. His wife, Kalavati (60), added, “We’ve spent over Rs 1 lakh on medical expenses since the time we moved in. Our children got sick first, then we.”
Complaints also include leaking ceilings, loose tiles, faulty plumbing, and unfinished electrical fittings. “We were given an agency’s contact for repairs. Sometimes they send a carpenter or a technician. If the issue is fixed, good; if not, we keep waiting,” said Bajrang Kale, a 36th-floor resident. Others have spent from their own pockets for safety features like window grills.
To add to their woes, residents received electricity bills dating back to May, months before taking possession. “Some haven’t even shifted yet but are being forced to pay fixed charges,” said Kale.
Residents have demanded immediate intervention from MHADA, BMC, and Tata Projects to address the persistent issues. Responding to complaints, Milind Borikar, Chief Officer, MHADA Mumbai Board, said, “We have provided several facilities for residents. A special register is maintained for complaints, and regular cleaning will be ensured as construction work is still ongoing.”
Source: Mid-day
