# Dhanteras Brings Joy to 697 Families in Mumbai as Maharashtra Government Hands Over New Housing Keys > On the auspicious occasion of Dhanteras, the Maharashtra government handed over keys to new homes to 697 families in Mumbai across two major housing schemes. **Type:** article · **Category:** Maharashtra · **Published:** 2026-11-06 · **Source:** TrendKia **Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/maharashtra/dhanteras-par-mumbai-me-697-parivaro-ki-diwali-hogi-khas-maharashtra-sarkar-ne-sopi-mankon-ki-chabiya-57162 · **Language:** English **Tags:** Maharashtra Government, BDD Chawl Redevelopment, MHADA, Mumbai Housing Scheme, Devendra Fadnavis, Eknath Shinde, Dhanteras Marking the auspicious festival of Dhanteras, the Maharashtra government handed over keys to dream homes to 697 beneficiaries across Mumbai. These residential units were distributed under two distinct housing schemes. A total of 557 residents from the NM Joshi Marg BDD chawl in Lower Parel received spacious 2 BHK apartments, while sanitation workers in Colaba were also presented with keys to their new homes under the Ashray scheme. ## Relief for Residents Living in Dilapidated Quarters For individuals who spent years residing in cramped, crumbling structures, receiving these permanent homes felt nothing short of a miracle. Following the handover, beneficiaries expressed their sincere gratitude to the Maharashtra government. Meanwhile, state authorities reiterated their firm resolve to transform Mumbai into a slum-free region and ensure that indigenous residents secure rightful permanent housing within the metropolis. ## The Redevelopment Journey From Shared Bathrooms to 2 BHK Flats Focusing on the NM Joshi Marg BDD chawl located in Lower Parel, the redevelopment initiative for 557 families overcame several milestones. - **Project Timeline:** The comprehensive redevelopment undertaking was granted official approval roughly four years ago, leading to the temporary relocation of residents while old structures were demolished. - **Rental Support:** Throughout the construction phase spanning four years, MHADA provided regular rental allowances to displaced families so they could reside comfortably in alternate accommodations. - **Government Execution:** Rather than outsourcing the project to private builders, the state government entrusted the entire redevelopment mandate directly to its premier housing agency, MHADA. - **Cramped Past:** Historically, residents squeezed into minuscule 160-square-foot single-room tenements lacking in-house restrooms, forcing entire floors to depend on common toilet blocks. - **Generational Wait:** Having spent anywhere from 15 to 50 years across generations inside these chawls, families never imagined they would eventually upgrade to expansive 500-square-foot 2 BHK flats. ## Appeals From Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis noted that the Marathi citizens residing in these historic chawls have diligently preserved their cultural identity and history, making today's home allocations deeply rewarding. The Chief Minister strongly urged beneficiaries not to sell their newly acquired properties and migrate elsewhere. Concurrently, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde stated that the Mahayuti administration successfully delivered 557 homes under the BDD chawl initiative alongside 140 units allotted to Colaba sanitation workers under the Ashray scheme, featuring 300-square-foot configurations. He commended sanitation personnel who rise early daily to keep Mumbai clean, noting that the government is systematically executing phased redevelopments to fulfill housing aspirations across all remaining chawl sectors. ## Ambitious Target to Complete BDD Chawl Transformations by 2029 Looking ahead, the Maharashtra government maintains a firm target to conclude the comprehensive redevelopment of BDD chawls across Worli, Naigaon, and remaining locations by the year 2029. State efforts remain focused on upgrading citizens from 160-square-foot dwellings to generous 500-square-foot modern flats. By utilizing MHADA as the executing housing authority instead of private developers, the administration continues advancing its core mission to eradicate slums and secure permanent homes for underprivileged citizens and native landowners alike. ## What this means for you This major housing rollout delivers substantial lifestyle improvements for hundreds of families in Mumbai. - **Across India:** The project highlights how government-led urban redevelopment initiatives can successfully transition vulnerable urban populations into secure permanent housing. - **In Mumbai:** Beneficiaries from the NM Joshi Marg BDD chawl and Colaba sanitation workers have successfully upgraded from cramped shanties to spacious modern apartments. - **Financial Relief:** The provision of continuous rental allowances by MHADA for four years protected displaced families from absorbing steep private housing costs. - **Housing Security:** A total of 697 households now possess full legal ownership of stable, well-constructed permanent residential units. - **Daily Living:** Eradicating shared bathroom dependencies and severe space constraints significantly uplifts the daily living standards of families and women. - **Future Outlook:** The state's stated completion target of 2029 provides strong reassurance to remaining chawl residents awaiting future redevelopment phases. ## Why this happened The distribution of these newly constructed homes stems directly from long-standing state initiatives aimed at redeveloping dilapidated chawls and eliminating urban slums across the metropolis. These decades-old structures suffered from severe structural and infrastructural deficits. - **Dilapidated Structures:** The historical BDD chawl tenements had deteriorated significantly over decades, shrinking to barely 160 square feet and becoming unsafe for residents. - **Lack of Basic Amenities:** The old residential units completely lacked private sanitation facilities, forcing residents to rely on shared floor-level restrooms. - **Government Intervention:** Choosing to bypass private developers, the state government and MHADA directly spearheaded the massive undertaking to guarantee transparent execution. - **Phased Completion:** Following four years of construction work and temporary relocation arrangements, the newly completed flats were ready for formal handover on Dhanteras. ## Questions & Answers ### 1. How many families received homes on Dhanteras? A total of 697 families across Mumbai received keys to their new homes on the occasion of Dhanteras. ### 2. How many residents from the NM Joshi Marg BDD chawl received apartments? A total of 557 residents from the NM Joshi Marg BDD chawl in Lower Parel received 2 BHK apartments. ### 3. Who received housing under the Ashray scheme? Under the Ashray scheme, 140 sanitation workers in Colaba were handed keys to their new 300-square-foot homes. ### 4. Which agency executed the redevelopment project? The redevelopment project was executed through the state housing agency MHADA, known as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority. ### 5. What was the size of the old BDD chawl tenements? Residents in the old BDD chawls previously lived in cramped 160-square-foot single-room kitchen tenements. ### 6. By what year does the Maharashtra government aim to complete the BDD chawl redevelopment? The state government aims to conclude the complete redevelopment of BDD chawls across Mumbai by the year 2029. --- _TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.. 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