It will be a sweet Gudi Padva for residents of the BDD Chawl redevelopment project, with the symbolic handing over of 864 tenements on March 16, 2026.
The Yashwantrao Chavan Centre at Nariman Point wore a festive air on March 16, 2026, as residents of the Naigaon BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project celebrated a milestone—the symbolic handing over of tenements to 864 eligible residents from five completed rehabilitation buildings in the first phase at the hands of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
At the entrance, live music filled the air, and visitors were greeted with peda boxes and sweet-smelling sonchafa flowers. In the packed auditorium, a few chosen beneficiaries awaited the big moment when they would be invited to the stage.
- BDD resident Subhadra Vishnu Lahane
In the audience were others, such as Subhadra Vishnu Lahane. Subhadra has lived at BDD Chawls, Naigaon, for 18 years with her husband Vishnu, who works in the police force. Her son, now 17, and daughter, 14, have grown up within the restrictions of their 160-sq.-ft. home. “It has been very difficult,” she says. “There was no place for them to play or move around. Now, when we shift to our new home, we will even have our own separate rooms!”
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis drew applause when he said that the Maharashtra government aims to complete 100% construction of 15,593 rehabilitation tenements under the BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project and hand over possession of these homes to beneficiaries by December 2029. The landmark project is being implemented by the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board of MHADA at Worli, Naigaon and N.M. Joshi Marg (Parel).
Mr Fadnavis also remarked that the redevelopment of the BDD Chawls had been under discussion for nearly four decades, but owing to various technical difficulties, differing proposals from builders, and local disagreements, the project remained pending for a long time. The government, therefore, decided to undertake the project directly through MHADA. The CM observed that the quality of the buildings constructed was of a very high standard, comparable to, or even better than, those developed by private builders. The development has been designed with several modern amenities and has been renamed as the ‘Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar BDD Complex’.
Speaking about the issue of parking, Mr Fadnavis noted that at Worli, one parking space per flat had been provided, while at Naigaon, one parking space has been allotted for every two flats. Efforts are underway to explore engineering solutions to further improve parking arrangements, he said. He further announced that around 900 sq. ft. of land will be provided for the Bhavani Mata Temple in the Naigaon area, where a beautiful temple will be constructed.
Mr Fadnavis spoke of the rich historical legacy of the BDD Chawls, which were associated with eminent personalities such as Annabhau Sathe and B. R. Ambedkar. The Chief Minister further stated that the government is making consistent efforts to ensure that ordinary and middle-class citizens in Mumbai receive homes they rightfully deserve.
Redevelopment work is also underway in areas such as Abhyudaya Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, Motilal Nagar, GTB Nagar, SVP Nagar and Kamathipura. Through these initiatives, nearly 1,000 acres of land in Mumbai will undergo redevelopment, bringing major transformation to the city and significantly improving the standard of living for common citizens.
Congratulating the beneficiaries, Fadnavis appealed to those receiving the keys to their new homes not to sell their flats under any circumstances, stating that these homes represent the struggles and memories of generations who lived in the BDD Chawls.
He further pointed out that the government is committed to ensuring that police personnel, who remain constantly vigilant for the safety and security of citizens, receive homes of their own.
Describing the day as a “golden moment” in the lives of the Naigaon BDD Chawl residents, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that residents who had been living in old chawls for decades were now being given free 500 sq. ft. modern flats equipped with contemporary amenities, enabling them to own homes in the heart of Mumbai.
Through this project, the Maharashtra Government is committed to ensuring that those who had moved out of Mumbai could once again have homes in the city’s core areas, he said, adding that for generations, families had endured hardships while living in 160 sq. ft. rooms. He reiterated that the construction quality of the rehabilitation buildings is excellent, and that MHADA had earned a reputation as a trusted institution. He also announced that MHADA would undertake maintenance of the rehabilitation buildings for 12 years, providing relief to residents.
Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar also spoke of how the Maharashtra Government was committed to transforming the lives of ordinary citizens and fulfilling their housing dreams. She pointed out that the rehabilitation tenements distributed on the occasion were a clear example of this commitment. She expressed happiness that families who lived for years in 160 sq. ft. rooms would celebrate the upcoming festival of Gudi Padwa in modern 500 sq. ft. homes after a four-decade-long wait. The rehabilitation homes represent their aspirations and dreams, marking the beginning of a new chapter of dignity and improved living conditions, she added. Built around 1920, these British-era BDD chawls had become witnesses to the overall development and history of Mumbai, she remarked, adding that their history did not just involve buildings but the struggle, determination and unity of the working class and ordinary families living here.
In his introductory remarks to the programme, MHADA Vice-President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal said that 556 rehabilitation flats had already been handed over under the Worli BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project, while 845 flats were ready and scheduled for handover within a month.
Construction of 4,893 rehabilitation flats at Worli, 1,074 flats at Naigaon, and 1,582 flats at N.M. Joshi Marg is currently in progress, he added. Overall, construction of 9,815 rehabilitation flats across the three BDD Chawl redevelopment projects is underway, with about 63% of the work completed. MLA Kalidas Kolambkar also spoke on the occasion and presented several local demands on behalf of the residents.
The event was attended by Deputy Chief Minister and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council Ram Shinde, Speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar, Skill Development, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Minister and Co-Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburbs Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Information Technology and Cultural Affairs Minister and Guardian Minister of Mumbai Suburbs Ashish Shelar, Deputy Chairperson of the Legislative Council Neelam Gorhe, Minister of State for Housing Pankaj Bhoyar, Mayor of Mumbai Ritu Tawde, MLAs Manisha Kayande and Kalidas Kolambkar, Additional Chief Secretary of Housing Department Aseem Kumar Gupta, MHADA Vice-President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, Chief Officer of Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board Milind Shambharkar, and Chief Officer of the Mumbai Board Milind Borikar, among others.
Meanwhile, in a separate development on the same day, Minister Shambhuraj Desai informed the Legislative Assembly that the changes in the rules made by the state government to speed up the redevelopment of dilapidated and dangerous buildings of MHADA in Mumbai were getting a good response from the developers and proposals for 10 projects had been received in just six months. Of these, one project had been granted a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Six cluster redevelopment proposals had come forward, he said.
Mr Desai added that previous redevelopment rules had deterred developers from coming forward to redevelop 388 MHADA buildings. Since many tenants had been living in old buildings for more than 30 years, the rules were changed to provide safer housing, and in July 2025, it was decided to allocate additional space within the rehabilitation area. As per the decision of September 18, 2025, provision was also made to take the construction area (FSI) at the ready reckoner rate of 25% of the land value instead of the earlier 20% premium. In addition, the FSI given as an incentive increased from 45%-75% to 75-100%. The MHADA administration had been instructed to expedite such projects on a priority basis. He added that instructions had been given to immediately approve proposals if all the documents were complete.