MUMBAI: Standing inside a 247 sq ft showflat in an under-construction housing complex in Malad,
Shravan and
Vijaylaxmi Gupta look ecstatic about the new life waiting behind these doors four years from now. ‘Home’ at present is a 10ftx10ft room in a slum at
Gandhi Nagar. “Tempers flare and fights break out during our daily treks to the roadside water tap or the shared toilet,” says Shravan. For this imitation-jewellery maker, moving to an apartment that combines a living room, bathroom and a kitchenette with enough cupboard space for shoes and clothes, spells opulence. Even if it’s the size of three office cubicles.
For what had almost become a unicorn in this city—self-owned housing-—people like Shravan and
Vijaylaxmi now have a better shot at buying their own home even as realty prices soar, thanks to a slew of residential projects. Offering nano apartments, these were unveiled in the latter half of 2017, hot on the heels of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna.
Small apartments have historically been a feature of the city. But this new wave of micro residences is witnessing a rush of young professional and moderate-income buyers who prioritise location over space.
