August 15, 2025: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday inaugurated the first phase of the Worli BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project, described as one of Asia’s largest urban renewal initiatives. The ceremony, held at Yashwantrao Chavan Natyagruha in Matunga (West), saw Fadnavis hand over keys to newly built flats to 556 eligible residents. Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with senior ministers and officials, attended the event.
The redevelopment, executed by MHADA’s Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board, represents a landmark step in moving long-time chawl residents into modern housing. The first phase covers residents from D and E wings of Building No. 01. In total, 9,689 residents from 121 old chawls in Worli will be rehabilitated, with 65% of the land dedicated to this purpose.
Those who once lived in 160 sq ft rooms will now own two-bedroom flats with a carpet area of 500 sq ft, provided free of cost. Plans include 34 rehabilitation towers of 40 storeys each, featuring podium parking and landscaped gardens. The project will create a self-contained township, offering facilities such as a commercial complex, schools, hospitals, gyms, hostels, and sustainable infrastructure including sewage treatment plants, solar power systems, and rainwater harvesting. MHADA will maintain the rehabilitated buildings for the next 12 years.
Honouring the century-old legacy of the BDD chawls, heritage spaces like Jamboree Maidan and Ambedkar Maidan will be preserved, while one chawl building will be transformed into a museum. Residents have been shifted to temporary accommodation or receive a monthly rent allowance of Rs 25,000 for 11 months. By December, MHADA aims to deliver an additional 3,989 flats across Worli, N.M. Joshi Marg, and Naigaon, eventually redeveloping 207 chawls housing 15,593 residents.
Source: Free Press Journal
