For 556 families of the historic BDD Chawl in Worli, life is about to change forever. After decades of living in 160 sq. ft. one-room homes, they will now receive ownership-based 2BHK flats with modern amenities, free of cost, as part of Asia’s largest urban renewal project.
These new homes, each with a 500 sq. ft. carpet area, mark the first phase of the Worli BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project, a massive state-led initiative to transform living conditions for thousands of chawl residents. The 556 flats being handed over are in Wings D and E of Building No. 1 — two of the 34 planned 40-storey rehabilitation towers.
From Congested Rooms to Modern Homes
For generations, families in the BDD Chawl have lived in cramped single-room units, many with four or more people sharing the same space. The new flats offer a leap in quality of life — with vitrified tiles, granite kitchen platforms, branded plumbing fixtures, aluminum-framed windows, fire safety systems, three elevators, a stretcher lift, and a fire lift.
Each flat also comes with a one-to-one parking facility, with stilt and six floors of podium parking. Above the podium, an eco-friendly garden on the seventh floor will offer residents open space — a rarity in central Mumbai.
A Township, Not Just a Building
The Worli project will eventually rehabilitate 9,689 residents from 121 old chawls, using 65% of the total plot area for residential redevelopment. Plans include separate commercial complexes, schools, gyms, hospitals, and hostels, creating a self-sufficient township.
The redevelopment is also designed with sustainability in mind — with a sewage treatment plant, solar energy systems, and rainwater harvesting facilities. MHADA will maintain the rehabilitated buildings for the first 12 years.
Preserving History Alongside Progress
While the transformation is dramatic, the redevelopment will preserve the cultural heritage of the BDD Chawls. The historic Jambori Maidan and Ambedkar Maidan — iconic venues for Mumbai’s political and cultural life — will remain intact.
The old chawl structures themselves will be preserved and converted into a museum to document the community’s history for future generations.
The Bigger Picture
Across all three BDD Chawl redevelopment sites — Worli, N.M. Joshi Marg-Parel, and Naigaon — the state aims to rehabilitate 15,593 residents.
- At N.M. Joshi Marg-Parel: 14 rehab buildings are under construction for 2,560 tenants.
- At Naigaon (Dadar): 20 rehab buildings will house 3,344 tenants.
By December 2025, 3,989 rehabilitation flats are expected to be completed across all sites.
In the interim, residents have been relocated to transit camps, with the option of transit flats or rent. Residential and non-residential tenants are being paid advance rent of ₹25,000 per month for 11 months.
Celebrating the First Step
The allotment of the first 556 flats will take place on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Yashwant Natya Mandir in Matunga West. The event will be attended by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, along with ministers Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Ashish Shelar, and Pankaj Bhoyar.
The program will be live-streamed on MHADA’s webcast link and on MHADA’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, @mhadaofficial.
