The Maharashtra government has announced an ambitious plan to construct eight lakh affordable homes by 2030, aligning with NITI Aayog’s recommendations. The initiative, led by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), aims to address the growing demand for affordable housing in the state.
The announcement was made by Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde during the computerized lottery draw for 2,147 homes and 117 plots under the MHADA Konkan Board at Kashinath Ghanekar Auditorium in Thane. The event was attended by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and other senior officials.
Lottery Sees Overwhelming Response
The housing lottery received 24,711 applications for the available homes and plots, reflecting the strong demand for MHADA housing. Shinde emphasized the government’s commitment to transparent and efficient housing allocation, ensuring that quality homes remain affordable and accessible to citizens. He directed MHADA officials to expedite the possession process for successful applicants.
The computerized draw was conducted using IHLMS 2.0, a fully digital and interference-free system, ensuring fairness. The list of successful applicants will be published at 6:00 PM on housing.mhada.gov.in, with winners also receiving notifications via SMS and email.
New Housing Policy and Redevelopment Projects
Shinde announced that the government is working on a new state housing policy, which will focus on affordable housing, rental housing, and hostels for senior citizens, working women, and students. Special provisions will also be made for mill workers and police personnel.
Additionally, the state is pushing forward with cluster redevelopment and slum rehabilitation projects, including Asia’s largest cluster redevelopment project in Thane. The Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar Project in Ghatkopar was highlighted as a key example of these efforts. Shinde assured that stalled MHADA redevelopment schemes will be revived to increase housing availability.
Regular Housing Lotteries and Policy Amendments
MHADA Vice President and Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Jaiswal stated that the agency plans to release approximately 30,000 homes annually through lotteries every three to six months. This marks the third Konkan Board lottery in 18 months, following the Pune Board’s draw for 3,662 homes last week.
Jaiswal also revealed that amendments to Development Control Rules (DCR) under sections 33(5), 33(7), 33(9), and 33(24) are being proposed to accelerate affordable housing construction. The upcoming housing policy will introduce rental housing provisions, expanding housing options for different income groups.
Strong Public Participation and Digital Access
The lottery event witnessed an enthusiastic response from home seekers. To ensure accessibility, the event was broadcast live on MHADA’s official YouTube and Facebook channels, attracting over 11,000 live viewers.
Senior officials from MHADA, Thane Municipal Corporation, and the Mumbai Repair and Reconstruction Board were present at the event. The program was anchored by MHADA Deputy Engineer Abhaykumar Kulkarni.
