As part of the BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project at N. M. Joshi Marg, 557 residents are set to receive possession of their rehabilitated homes during the Navratri festival. The handover, originally planned for the end of September, was postponed following a request from residents to avoid the Pitru Paksha period.
Two rehabilitation buildings under the project have already been completed, with occupancy certificates secured for 342 homes. The Mumbai Board of MHADA had been preparing to hand over these houses in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, the schedule was subsequently shifted to Navratri.
Meanwhile, a third rehabilitation building has also been completed. Occupancy certificates for its 215 homes are expected within a week, allowing the board to include these units in the same handover programme. As a result, possession of 557 homes, rather than the initially planned 342, is expected to be given during Navratri.
The Maharashtra government assigned MHADA’s Mumbai Board the redevelopment of the ageing BDD chawls. Apart from Sewri, redevelopment has been undertaken at Worli, N. M. Joshi Marg and Naigaon. Rehabilitation buildings are being completed in phases, with eligible residents receiving possession after the necessary occupancy approvals are secured.
Residents of Worli and Naigaon have already received homes through multiple phases. At N. M. Joshi Marg, however, occupants had been waiting longer for their promised 500 sq. ft. rehabilitation homes. Residents were among the early supporters of the redevelopment and vacated their old homes, but delays in construction had led to dissatisfaction.
Following residents’ concerns over the pace of work, the Mumbai Board accelerated construction, eventually completing the first two rehabilitation buildings and securing approvals for 342 homes.
The board had initially planned to distribute possession by September-end. However, residents requested that the ceremony be held after Pitru Paksha. With the additional 215 homes expected to receive approvals shortly, 557 families are now likely to enter their new homes during Navratri and celebrate Dussehra and Diwali there.
Source: Loksatta
