550 Mumbai chawl families receive keys of new redeveloped spacious apartments

India Today

2 days ago

Mumbai's century-old Worli BDD chawls saw a major shift on Thursday as 556 families received keys to their new 500-sq ft high-rise apartments under the long-pending redevelopment project. Residents are moving from cramped 180-sq ft rooms to modern 2-BHK homes, some offering sea views.The redevelopment, carried out by Tata Housing in partnership with the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), includes two completed towers of 40 floors each, with work on other buildings ongoing.advertisementThe larger Bombay Development Department (BDD) chawl redevelopment — covering Worli, Naigaum in Dadar, and NM Joshi Marg — is estimated at over Rs 17,000 crore. Once complete, 15,593 families will transition from 160-sq ft homes to 500-sq ft apartments.
Amenities in the new towers include a rainwater harvesting system, rooftop solar panels, automatic corridor light sensors, and planned parking facilities.Last month, residents were given a preview of "tower life" during an orientation session, which included guidelines such as not storing footwear or belongings in corridors.For many, the day was the fulfilment of a decades-long wait. Ravindra Mayekar, 58, whose 75-year-old mother is among the beneficiaries, said, "We have been waiting for this house to be completed for years. It's a dream come true. People should stay in these houses and not sell them to others. This is gold which we should leave for our next generation".Others, still awaiting possession, expressed mixed feelings. Stayawan Bankar, who lives in an old building next to the construction site, said, "Construction is ongoing next to our building. Due to this, mosquito infestation has increased. Last year my daughter was admitted to the hospital twice. My dream of having a family is complete, now waiting for the dream of a house to be completed".For the Kulkarni family, Thursday was an emotional milestone. "It's my grandmother's deeds that we have got this house today. Since I was growing up I have been hearing that Worli BDD will be redeveloped. To see it happening is a dream come true. My family plans to stay here," said 22-year-old Varad Kulkarni.According to local property agent Santosh Singh, Worli's real estate rates range from Rs 60,000 per sq ft for regular flats to Rs 1.25 lakh for luxury units."In case of Worli BDD, because it's a redeveloped building, it will cost around Rs 30,000 to Rs 40,000 per sq ft even if made well. So the costing will be at Rs 2 crores per flat as a middle-class person can't pay more than," he said.For the new homeowners, the move marks the beginning of a new chapter — one that transforms a 100-year-old community into a modern vertical neighborhood.- Ends
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