Around 850 to 900 winners of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Mumbai lottery have reportedly returned their allotted homes, raising questions about the affordability of the scheme despite strong demand for subsidised housing in the city.
MHADA had conducted a lottery for 2,640 homes on August 6 across locations including Vikhroli, Goregaon, Borivali, Chembur, Bandra, Ghatkopar, Girgaon, Wadala and Powai. However, a significant number of successful applicants have chosen not to proceed with their allotments.
According to an MHADA official, more than 850 winners have already declined their homes, while another 50 to 60 winners have yet to make a final decision. These applicants have been granted an extension until September 9 to confirm whether they wish to retain their allotted properties.
The decision to surrender the homes has been attributed to several factors. Some winners reportedly already own multiple properties, while others found the allotted homes too expensive. Location preferences, inability to arrange the required funds and other financial constraints have also contributed to the cancellations.
The large number of surrendered homes has raised hopes among applicants on MHADA’s waiting list, who could get an opportunity to secure a property once the final number of available units is determined.
What Were the MHADA Housing Prices?
The lottery included 145 homes for the very low-income group, 856 for the low-income group, 798 for the middle-income group and 841 for the high-income group.
In Vikhroli, 86 homes under the very low-income category were priced at around Rs 50 lakh, while 70 low-income group homes were priced between Rs 75 lakh and Rs 85 lakh.
Across the lottery, the most affordable property was located in PMGP Mankhurd, priced at approximately Rs 29.37 lakh. At the other end of the spectrum, the most expensive property was a home at Crescent Tower in Tardeo, priced at around Rs 6.82 crore.
The unusually high number of cancellations highlights the gap between the availability of government-supported housing and what successful applicants can realistically afford. The final number of homes returned will determine how many properties are eventually offered to applicants on the waiting list.
Source: Zee News
