January 19, 2026: Residents of the Bombay Development Department (BDD) Chawls at Worli have appealed to the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to postpone the upcoming lottery draw for flat allotment under the second phase of the redevelopment project, citing unresolved issues related to consultation, community cohesion and religious structures.
The lottery for allotting 2,246 flats is scheduled to be held on Wednesday and Thursday as part of the second phase of the BDD Chawl redevelopment. Earlier, on August 15, MHADA handed over possession of 556 flats in newly constructed multi-storey buildings to residents. Each new flat measures 500 sq ft, a substantial increase from the original 160 sq ft chawl units built between 1920 and 1925. The BDD Chawls were among Mumbai’s earliest affordable housing developments for migrant workers employed in textile mills, docks and the railways.
In a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde, and senior MHADA officials, Kiran Mane, general secretary of the Akhil BDD Chawl Bhadekaru Hakk Sarankshan Samiti, alleged that MHADA was proceeding with the second phase allotment without adequate consultation with residents. He said residents were unwilling to take possession until key concerns were addressed. “If the issue about possession of the houses is not resolved amicably, social unity may get affected in the future,” the letter stated.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Mane said communication with residents had been inconsistent. “Ideally, they should engage with us every three months. When the assistance of residents and the association was needed, the authorities readily approached us. Now, they are not taking us into confidence before taking key decisions,” he said.
Residents have also objected to plans that could reshuffle families from different communities, warning that such moves may disrupt long-established social ties. Several chawls are community-specific, and Mane argued that redevelopment should preserve neighbourhood groupings. “Instead of mixing everyone up, there needs to be a harmonious approach that allows people to stay with their existing neighbours so that festivals, traditions and family events can continue as they have for decades,” he said.
Concerns were also raised over the proposed relocation of religious structures that have existed in the area for decades, with residents alleging a lack of meaningful dialogue. A meeting between residents and MHADA officials is scheduled for Monday, after which a decision is expected on whether the lottery will proceed as planned.
Under the first phase of the project, construction of 14 buildings of 40 floors each began in 2021, with two completed so far. In total, 33 buildings are planned to rehouse 9,689 BDD Chawl residents at Worli.
