MHADA to hand over keys of 557 N M Joshi Marg BDD Chawl homes next week

The Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board (MHADA) is preparing to hand over possession of 557 homes built under the N M Joshi Marg BDD Chawl redevelopment project next week. Residents could get the keys soon.

Work on the three rehabilitation buildings is complete, and they have received the occupancy certificate. This has cleared the way for residents to move into their new homes.

The key handover had earlier been planned for the Navratri festival but could not be held on schedule. Residents' anger over the delay had been growing. MHADA has now begun preparing for the handover ceremony.

According to sources in MHADA's Mumbai Board, the event is likely to be held between October 26 and 28 at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi. The final date and time have not yet been fixed. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to attend.

Residents of N M Joshi Marg BDD Chawl were among the first groups to back the redevelopment project and vacate their old homes. Despite cooperating from the start, they have had to wait longer for possession of their new homes than residents of the other BDD Chawl redevelopment projects.

MHADA has already handed over homes to more than 1,400 residents of Worli and Naigaon, separately at each site. With residents of N M Joshi Marg yet to get new homes, there was considerable unease among them over the pace of redevelopment.

Residents also asked why possession was delayed even after construction was completed and the occupancy certificate received. Several dates announced earlier for possession passed without the keys being distributed.

Over the delay, residents demanded that MHADA not put off the handover merely for a formal ceremony, and complete it immediately.

Following the residents' complaints, senior officials of the Mumbai Board have confirmed that preparations for the key distribution event are under way. The handover of 557 homes will bring major relief to families waiting for a permanent home.

The N M Joshi Marg project is part of the BDD Chawl redevelopment initiative covering Worli, Naigaon and N M Joshi Marg. The project aims to settle thousands of residents in new residential buildings.