BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project Will Improve Residents’ Quality of Life: CM Devendra Fadnavis

864 Rehabilitation Flats Distributed Under Naigaon BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project

Mumbai, March 2026: Devendra Fadnavis said the state government is committed to fulfilling the dream of home ownership for the middle class in Mumbai. He expressed confidence that the redevelopment of the BDD Chawl will significantly improve the quality of life of residents. He also appealed to residents not to sell their homes after receiving them under the redevelopment scheme.

The Chief Minister handed over 864 rehabilitation flats in the first phase of the Naigaon BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project being implemented by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

Fadnavis said the redevelopment of BDD Chawls had remained pending for many years due to several challenges. The state government therefore decided to undertake the project itself rather than relying on private builders. He noted that the project was executed by some of the best companies in the country to ensure high-quality development.

The Chief Minister added that the government is working to accelerate redevelopment projects across Mumbai and has set a target of handing over all homes to residents by 2029.

He said the redevelopment work at Naigaon and Worli has been carried out beautifully and that efforts have been made to provide residents with all essential infrastructure and modern facilities. Fadnavis also assured residents that a solution would be found to address parking issues in Naigaon.

Regarding the local Bhavani Mata Temple, the Chief Minister said that 900 square feet of land would be provided to resolve the issue related to the temple. He also highlighted the rich history of BDD Chawls, noting that legendary figures such as Annabhau Sathe and B. R. Ambedkar once lived there. Fadnavis even suggested that a book should be written documenting the remarkable history of the BDD Chawls.

He further said that many citizens living in old chawls across Mumbai face numerous difficulties. “Mumbai exists because of ordinary people, and it is the people of Mumbai who preserve the city’s culture,” he said, emphasizing that residents should be able to own homes within the city itself.

The government is working to complete all ongoing housing projects and is also trying to ensure that police personnel receive homes of their own. Fadnavis said discussions will be held with Eknath Shinde, who also holds the housing portfolio, to resolve issues related to housing prices for police personnel. He added that improvements may be made to the housing policy introduced in 2016 that aims to provide ownership homes for police officers.

The Chief Minister also said that redevelopment projects covering nearly 1,000 acres in Mumbai are currently underway. These projects are expected to bring major transformation to the city and provide housing opportunities for ordinary citizens.

Under the BDD redevelopment project, residents who earlier lived in 160-square-foot houses will receive modern two-bedroom flats of around 500 square feet, equipped with contemporary amenities, free of cost. The initiative is being considered Asia’s first and largest urban renewal redevelopment project of its kind.

Homes for Common Citizens: Deputy CM Eknath Shinde

Speaking on the occasion, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the day as one that should be written in golden letters. He said residents who once lived in chawls will now move into modern towers, fulfilling dreams that many families have cherished for decades.

Shinde noted that generations of families have built emotional, cultural, and social bonds in the BDD Chawls. He said the government’s policy is to ensure that common citizens receive their rightful homes and access to better living facilities.

He added that residents will celebrate the upcoming Gudi Padwa on March 19 with great joy in their new homes. The state government, he said, is also working to provide housing for police personnel who serve the public under difficult conditions.

Shinde further announced that MHADA will pay 12 years of property tax for BDD residents. Through redevelopment projects, the government aims to bring back Mumbaikars who had been forced to move out of the city due to lack of housing. He also mentioned that schemes such as cluster redevelopment and Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) projects are providing homes to lakhs of people.

A Historic Moment for Residents

Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Ajit Pawar said the moment was historic, as 864 beneficiaries in the first phase have finally received the keys to their rightful homes after nearly four decades of waiting.

She said these homes are not merely structures made of bricks and cement but symbols of the dreams and aspirations of the residents.

Constructed around 1920 during the British era, the BDD Chawls have witnessed Mumbai’s development and history. However, their story is not just about buildings but also about the struggles, determination, and unity of the hardworking families who lived there.

For nearly four decades, residents had been waiting for safe and dignified housing. With the distribution of the first phase of homes, a new chapter has begun in the lives of BDD residents, Pawar said.

The programme was attended by several dignitaries including Rahul Narwekar, Neelam Gorhe, Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Ashish Shelar, Pankaj Bhoyar, Ritu Tawde, and several legislators and officials.

The introductory remarks were delivered by Sanjeev Jaiswal, while the vote of thanks was proposed by Milind Borikar.