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 in the N M Joshi Marg BDD Chawl redevelopment project next week. Three rehabilitated buildings in the project have been completed and have received occupancy certificates, clearing the way for residents to move into their new homes.

A key distribution programme had earlier been planned for Navratri but could not be held on schedule. Resentment among residents grew over the delay, after which MHADA began preparing a handover ceremony.

According to sources in the Mumbai board, the programme is likely to be held between October 26 and 28 at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is expected to attend, but has not yet confirmed the final date and time.

Residents of N M Joshi Marg BDD Chawl were among the first to back the redevelopment project and vacate their old homes. Even so, they had to wait longer for possession of their new flats than residents of the other BDD Chawl redevelopment sites.

MHADA has already handed over homes to more than 1,400 residents in Worli and Naigaon. N M Joshi Marg residents, in contrast, had not received possession of their new homes, and their disappointment over the pace of redevelopment was growing.

Residents also asked why the handover was delayed even after construction was complete and occupancy certificates were received. Several timelines announced earlier for possession passed without keys being distributed. Residents demand that MHADA speed up the process instead of putting off possession for want of a formal key-distribution ceremony.

Following the residents' complaints, senior officials of the Mumbai board have confirmed that preparations for the key distribution programme are under way. The handover of the 557 homes is expected to bring considerable relief to families waiting for a permanent home.

The N M Joshi Marg redevelopment project is part of the larger BDD Chawl redevelopment initiative, which includes Worli, Naigaon and N M Joshi Marg. The project aims to settle thousands of people in newly built residential buildings.