In a major development for aspiring homeowners in Mumbai, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) Mumbai Board will conduct a lottery for 5,000 homes in October this year. MHADA Vice President Sanjeev Jaiswal announced this on Monday and also shared that keys to the newly built homes under the BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project will be handed over to local residents in May.
Jaiswal said this lottery will be a Diwali gift for Mumbaikars. However, details about the exact location and prices of these homes have not yet been disclosed. To ensure speedy implementation, all MHADA projects are being closely monitored, with monthly reviews held in the Chief Minister’s War Room.
High Demand, Limited Supply
The demand for MHADA homes continues to vastly outstrip supply. On average, over 40 applications are received for each home. Earlier this year, 2,030 homes drew 1.29 lakh online registrations. In 2023, 4,082 homes received 1.09 lakh applications. With such limited availability, the wait for affordable housing remains long for many applicants.
19,500 Completed Homes Yet to Be Sold
MHADA is facing challenges in selling around 19,500 completed homes in various areas. However, in recent months, a special campaign enabled the authority to successfully sell 7,500 of these units.
Digitization for Transparency
In a move to enhance transparency, MHADA has decided to make 15 crore internal documents publicly accessible. According to Jaiswal, scanning of all these documents has been completed, and they will soon be available on MHADA’s official website for public viewing and reference.
MHADA Headquarters Equipped with AI-Based Systems
Embracing technology, MHADA has now integrated AI-based systems into its headquarters to improve efficiency and user experience. On Monday, several new facilities were inaugurated, including:
- Citizen Service Center: Equipped with 18 counters to assist citizens; documents will be scanned, and originals returned immediately.
- Visitor Management System: Keeps a digital record of all visitors.
- Digital Entry (DG Pravesh): After a one-time registration, the gate automatically opens upon camera recognition of registered visitors.
- Office Locator System: Helps visitors identify the location of different departments within the MHADA building.
These initiatives aim to streamline processes, enhance transparency, and provide better services to the public.
