MHADA lottery: Many realise their dreams to own house in Mumbai

With more than 66,000 applicants for 217 homes, around 6,700 people had to return empty-handed


MHADA lottery

People check their names in the lottery list at MHADA office in Bandra on Sunday - Aadesh Choudhari, DNA

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) drew the lottery for allocation of as many as 217 flats to beneficiaries across Mumbai on Sunday. With more than 66,000 applicants for 217 homes, around 6,700 people had to return empty-handed.

However, they can try their luck at MHADA's Konkan board lottery for 2,000 to 2,500 houses, which will be held in the next few months.

The lottery was held at MHADA headquarters at Kalanagar.

Many dreams were realised because of the lottery. For Prashant Gaikwad, an MHADA employee who won a house at Chembur, this was his fifth attempt. He currently resides in staff quarters at Pratiksha Nagar.

SHOPS ON SALE
  • MHADA had also held an e-auction of 274 shops.   
  • 105 shops did not find any taker  
  • The authority has decided to call for a second round of e-auction  
  • The most expensive shop was sold for Rs 1.95 crore which was 119 per cent higher than the reserve price of Rs 88.83 lakh. This shop was located at Tunga-Powai

While some had to make multiple attempts, Ganesh Khairnar, who had applied for the first time itself won the lottery in the general public category. "I stay in a rented apartment in Kurla while my family resides in Nashik. This was my first attempt, and I won. I am very happy," said a visibly excited Khairna.

While some were unhappy, but they did not lose hope. Even after her eighth attempt, Chhaya Rathod, who had applied for a home in Tunga Powai, failed to win. However, that did not falter her resolve to try again during the next lottery.

Meanwhile, for those who didn't win in the lottery, Balasaheb Patil, chairman of MHADA's Konkan board said, "In two months time, we will conduct a lottery of more than 2,000 to 2,500 homes in August. These homes will be situated in Thane and Konkan region."

On the other hand, MHADA is planning to conduct a lottery for 8,000 houses for mill workers. Speaking about it president of MHADA, Uday Samant said, "We will be holding this lottery for mill workers soon. Apart from this, I have asked the officials to come out with a list of all the homes available to us from the redevelopment of MHADA buildings in Mumbai will be up for grabs in the next lottery." He added that the authorities are yet to decide on the houses at Tunga-Powai which were returned owing to its high price.