By Varun Singh

The three BDD chawls spread over Worli, N M Joshi Marg and Naigaum have been renamed by the government of Maharashtra.

Between 1921-1925, a total of 207 ground plus three storey buildings have been constructed at Worli, N M Joshi Marg and Naigaum. Each building has 80 residential units. There are also slum-like constructions, stalls, shops, social/educational institutions.

These BDD chawls are around 96 years old and the government led by Devendra Fadanvis in the year 2016 announced the redevelopment of these chawls.

MHADA has even appointed contractors for the redevelopments of these chawls and work at different stages are going on.

For all these years the chawls that were developed by Bombay Development Department have been known by the locations where they have been located.

The current government for a long time has been planning to rename these chawls after political leaders and finally on Friday the government’s housing department came out with a resolution.

The GR passed on June 3, 2022 by the housing department read, “Currently the redevelopment work of BDD chawls at Worli, N M Joshi Marg, and Naigaum is in progress. Between the years 1921-1925 these buildings were built by the Bombay Development Department and hence they got to be known as BDD chawls. Since these chawls were being redeveloped the minister for housing during the assembly session in 2022 announced the changing of the names. Hence the names have been change.”

The new names are as follows
BDD Chawl Worli: Late Balasaheb Thackeray Nagar
BDD Chawl N M Joshi Marg: Late Rajiv Gandhi Nagar
BDD Chawl Naigaum: Sharad Pawar Nagar

BDD chawls are a synonym to the middle class population’s history of Mumbai, The chawls have a rich history and a culture which can be termed as the melting pot of different identities still thrives in Central Mumbai.

The most important aspect of BDD chawls is, that it is spread over 92 acre of prime land in Mumbai. There are a total of 195 chawls in Worli, Naigaon and NM Joshi Marg. There also exists few BDD chawls in Sewree.

Currently MHADA is redeveloping the BDD chawls in the three locations.

N M Joshi Marg, Lower Parel

Chawls: 32
Tenants: 2,560
Funds: Rs 2,460 crore+
Tender Won by: Shapoorij Pallonji

Naigaon

Chawls: 42
Tenants: 9,869
Funds required: Rs2,800+ crore
Tender won by: L&T

Worli:

Chawls: 121
Tenants: 9,689
Funds Required: Rs 10,700 crore
Tender Won by: Tata Capacite

Also Read: BDD Naigaon Back On Track With L&T

The post BDD Chawls named after Bal Thackeray, Rajiv Gandhi and Sharad Pawar appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

Finally the government of Maharashtra has shown some spine.

The government recently came out with a government resolution which talks about BDD chawl Redevelopment.

The GR dated October 14, has spoken exhaustively about disputed properties in the chawls of BDD.

There are many disputed properties where the original tenant of the tenement in BDD chawl had died and the legal heirs where in dispute.

According to the GR, MHADA had raised this issue several times after which the government had to take a decision.

There is a fight on several properties between the legal heirs post the demise of the original tenant.

The GR states that in most cases the legal heirs that are disputing do not cooperate because of which transferring the property in one person’s name becomes an issue.

The government of Maharashtra has undertaken the redevelopment of BDD chawl across three important locations in Mumbai city.

These locations are Naigaon, NM Joshi Marg, and Worli.

Private corporate contractors have been appointed for the redevelopment of these BDD chawl.

Paying heed to the demand of Mhada the government has now clearly stated that the disputed property will be transferred in the name of the director of BDD.

This transfer will be till the time the dispute is settled and a clear legal heir is declared for the property in dispute.

While the property in dispute is being transferred in the name of director, BDD the names of the original tenant and the legal heirs shall be mentioned too.

This will mean that till the time the property dispute isn’t settled the legal heirs will not be able to occupy the disputed property.

Square feat India’s take:
This decision is a welcome step when it comes to redevelopment projects this should be implemented in other projects too, as property disputes issue delays the property redevelopment. This will make the disputing parties come together and solve the issues at the earliest and will enable the redevelopment.

Also Read: BDD Naigaon Back On Track With L&T

The post Disputed Property in BDD will be put on Director’s Name appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

BDD Naigaon redevelopment had hit a road block after L&T had decided to withdraw from the project.

However, the ambitious BDD Naigaon Chawl redevelopment is now back on track, according to MHADA officials.

Yogesh Mhase, Chief Officer, MHADA’s Mumbai Board confirmed that L&T has withdrawn the letter of termination and decided to continue with the project.

At Naigaon, BDD there are a total of 42 Chawls, comprising of a total 9869 tenants. The funds required for the redevelopment is Rs 2,800 crore +.

MHADA in August as per reports received a letter from construction giant L&T expressing their desire to discontinue with Naigaon BDD redevelopment.

After this several rounds of meetings with L&T and top MHADA and government officials begun.

A MHADA official said, “The newly appointed MHADA Vice President Anil Diggikar played a vital role in convincing the construction giant to continue with the project.”

It is believed that L&T was unhappy that in spite of it receiving the contract three years ago, the work wasn’t moving ahead.

As per the work order issued by MHADA on April 17, 2017, L&T had made a security deposit towards performance security via bank guarantees worth Rs 145.14 crore.

During the Devendra Fadanvis led government, the tenders were floated for all the three BDD chawl redevelopment. These are NM Joshi, Worli and Naigaon.

Each tenant post redevelopment is to get a 2 BHK apartment measuring 500 sq ft in lieu of the current one room that they reside in.

The redeveloped apartments will have two bathrooms, while currently they share common bathroom located at every floor. 

A detailed email sent to L&T seeking their comment got us no response.

Also Read: Actor Mortgages Juhu Property To Help Those In Need

The post BDD Naigaon Back On Track With L&T appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

The fate of redevelopment of BDD chawl at Naigaon now lies in the hands of state government.

According to officials from MHADA, L&T seems to be firm on its decision to not proceed with the BDD chawl redevelopment at Naigaon.

At Naigaon, BDD there are a total of 42 Chawls, comprising of a total 9869 tenants. The funds required for the redevelopment is Rs 2,800 crore +.

MHADA in August as per reports received a letter from construction giant L&T expressing their desire to discontinue with Naigaon BDD redevelopment.

Post which there were several meetings held with the construction company, but things didn’t work out.

When asked Yogesh Mhase, Chief Officer, Mumbai Board, MHADA what was the next step as L&T has decided to no proceed, he said, “Will have to go to Government.”

“We will have to go to government.”

Yogesh Mhase, Chief Officer, MHADA’s Mumbai Board.

It is believed that L&T is unhappy that in spite of it receiving the contract three years ago, the work wasn’t moving ahead.

As per the work order issued by MHADA on April 17, 2017, L&T had made a security deposit towards performance security via bank guarantees worth Rs 145.14 crore.

During the Devendra Fadanvis led government, the tenders were floated for all the three BDD chawl redevelopment. These are NM Joshi, Worli and Naigaon.

This move will delay the dreams of tenants wanting to move into a spacious apartments, from their compact ones right now.

Each tenant post redevelopment is to get a 2 BHK apartment measuring 500 sq ft in lieu of the current one room that they reside in.

The redeveloped apartments will have two bathrooms, while currently they share common bathroom located at every floor. 

A detailed email sent to L&T seeking their comment got us no response.

If government fails to convince L&T, the process of BDD chawl redevelopment at this site will further delay.

Also Read: Top Firm Sells Worli Flat For Rs 6.14 Cr That It Bought For Rs 9.6 Cr Only 9 Months Ago

The post Naigaon BDD’s Fate Now In Hands Of State Govt appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

For the last two days officials at MHADA are busy going through paper work related to Naigon BDD Chawl Redevelopment.

The reason being, that MHADA apparently received a letter from construction giant L&T expressing their desire to discontinue with Naigaon BDD redevelopment.

It is believed that L&T is unhappy that in spite of it receiving the contract three years ago, the work wasn’t moving ahead.

A senior MHADA official associated with the BDD Chawl redevelopment confirmed that the letter has been received by them.

He said, “You already know intentions of people opposing project implementation process. What more can I say?”

Meanwhile, MHADA is trying to find ways how it can convince L&T to stay back. “The conditions in the contract could be one of the ways to make L&T reconsider their decision,” said an officer.

As per the work order issued by MHADA on April 17, 2017, L&T had made a security deposit towards performance security via bank guarantees worth Rs 145.14 crore.

The project is to be completed within seven years time. However, on Monday it is said that the firm notified MHADA its intent to not go ahead with the BDD Redevelopment project at Naigaon.

At Naigaon, BDD there are a total of 42 Chawls, comprising of a total 9869 tenants. The funds required for the redevelopment is Rs 2,800 crore +.

Messages sent to MHADA Vice President Milind Mhaiskar and Mumbai Board Chief Office Yogesh Mhase got us no response.

A detailed email sent to L&T seeking its comment to confirm about the letter got us no response.

During the Devendra Fadanvis led government, the tenders were floated for all the three BDD chawl redevelopment.

Each tenant post redevelopment is to get a 2 BHK apartment measuring 500 sq ft in lieu of the current one room that they reside in.

The redeveloped apartments will have two bathrooms, while currently they share common bathroom located at every floor.

Local MLA from the area Kalidas Kolambkar, said, “For us what matters is that the redevelopment should be of superior quality and under MHADA’s supervision.”

Also Read: Top Firm Sells Worli Flat For Rs 6.14 Cr That It Bought For Rs 9.6 Cr Only 9 Months Ago

The post Has L&T Pulled Out Of Naigaon BDD Redevelopment? appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

The biggest question any tenant has in his or her mind, when the project goes for redevelopment is how will their house look post redevelopment?

It’s the same for tenants of BDD chawls in Worli. Currently the tenants of BDD chawls in Worli occupy homes measuring 160 square foot,

Their new homes post BDD redevelopment will measure 500 sq ft and will be 2 BHK apartments.

The sample flat is ready at Worli and here’s an exclusive sneak peak of how the apartments will look once its redeveloped.

Worli comprises of a total 121 chawls with 9,689 tenants. Once redeveloped BDD will boast 22 stores buildings for tenants. The funds required for redevelopment is Rs 10,700 crore

These redeveloped homes will measure 500 sq ft, which will be 2 BHK apartments.

The current area of the flats are 160 sq ft, which the tenants occupy. The new homes will have a hall, plus two bedrooms.

While the current homes do not have a bedroom, the new ones when redeveloped will have two bedrooms, of which one will be a master bedroom.

The current homes do have a kitchen but it is more or less part of the home, without any separation. The redeveloped homes will have a separate kitchen too.

Currently the tenants of BDD Worli have to use a common toilet, located on each floor. Post redevelopment, the tenants will have two bathrooms and toilets.

With pandemic, right now it isn’t possible for tenants to go and visit this sample flat.

According to sources, MHADA is brainstorming on steps it can take so that the visits can be facilitated keeping in mind the basic mantra of Social distancing.

It is also believed by officials that once the tenants see the sample flat, their confidence in the redevelopment will strengthen.

Also Read: Corona impact: Many BDD tenants ready for transit

The post Sneak peak of BDD Worli homes post redevelopment appeared first on Square Feat India.

By Varun Singh

Corona virus has caused a lot of damage, apart from deaths, it has even delayed several infrastructure projects.

BDD chawl redevelopment is one of the biggest projects undertaken by MHADA. While contracts have been awarded for all the three BDD chawls. There are some tenants who were reluctant to shift to the transit camps.

However, Corona has changed the minds of many of those tenants who earlier were reluctant. The biggest reason is the common toilet and smaller apartments.

BDD chawls are close to 100 years old and crowded inside. They share common toilet, on a floor with 20 apartments, there are six toilets for all.

The current apartment sizes are 160 sq ft and too small, to reside. Once redeveloped the tenants of these chawls will be eligible for 500 sq ft apartment. Not only this, the 2BHK apartments will have two toilets and two bathrooms.

Krishnkanth Nalge, chairman of one of the BDD chawl committee confirmed this.

According to Nalge, the Corona scare has made many tenants still residing at BDD chawl in N M Joshi Marg wanting to shift to transit camps.

“Some families shifted to transit camp, here we have a toilet and bathroom inside the apartments. But back at BDD there are common toilets. With Corona many tenants are scared that using common toilets will increase the spread and have been calling me expressing desire to shift to transit accommodation,” he said.

BDD chawls once housed maximum of mill workers and their families. Today the generation has shifted to do other kind of works. With closure of many mills in Mumbai, hardly one can find an active mill worker residing here.

A senior MHADA official looking into redevelopment said, “Common toilet and 160 sq. ft. carpet area room occupied by too many people causing health issues during this Corona pandemic.”

According to the official, many tenants are seeing that people who have shifted to transit buildings are feeling safe and want to feel the same. The official says they are receiving several calls from tenants to shift them to transit accommodation.

However, shifting during Corona time is difficult. Nalge says, “Because of the ongoing pandemic, the offices aren’t fully operational, Even those who would help shifting with household goods aren’t available.”

However, once things settle down to certain extent, the process of shifting willing tenants to transit camps may begin.

BDD chawls were built by the Bombay Block Directorate  (BDD). There are a total of 195 BDD chawls spread across Lower Parel, Naigaon and Worli.

BDD chawls occupy over 92 acre of prime land in Central Mumbai. There are total of 15,593 tenants, most from the working middle class. 

Locations:

N M Joshi Marg, Lower Parel

• Chawls: 32Tenants: 2,560
• Funds: Rs 2,460 crore+
• Tender Won by: Shapoorij Pallonji 

Naigaon

• Chawls: 42
• Tenants: 9,869
• Funds required: Rs2,800+ crore
• Tender won by: L&T

Worli

• Chawls: 121
• Tenants: 9,689
• Funds Required: Rs 10,700 crore
• Tender Won by: Tata Capacite 

Also Read: MHADA lottery for 24 homes on August 10, 2020

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