Navi Mumbai: CIDCO’s mega housing lottery has granted homes to 19,518 citizens, marking a significant step towards achieving the vision of affordable and quality housing for all. Under the "My Preferred CIDCO Home" scheme, a total of 21,399 flats were offered, making it the largest-ever lottery in CIDCO’s history and a major milestone in Maharashtra’s housing sector.

The lottery draw was conducted on the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Jayanti at Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde overseeing the event. Senior CIDCO officials, including Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal, Deputy Managing Directors Shantan Goyal, Dr. Raja Dayanidhi, Ganesh Deshmukh, and Panvel Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale, were present along with a large gathering of officials and employees.

During the event, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde emphasized the government’s commitment to providing high-quality and affordable housing. He stated that CIDCO is the only agency allowing applicants to choose their preferred homes, making the process more transparent and citizen-centric.

He further highlighted that the homes have been built by reputed developers such as Tata, L&T, and Shapoorji Pallonji, ensuring durability and high construction standards. The strategic locations of these houses near railway stations and airports will offer great convenience to residents, he further added.

A video message from former Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was also played during the event, in which he described CIDCO’s housing project as a crucial step under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and congratulated the successful applicants. Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s message was read out, calling the lottery an important milestone towards achieving the goal of "Housing for All."

Shinde also highlighted key infrastructure developments that will further boost housing demand in Navi Mumbai. He noted that the travel time from Navi Mumbai to Mumbai, which previously took over an hour, has now been reduced to just 20 minutes with the completion of the Atal Setu (MTHL). Additionally, a dedicated corridor from Thane to Mumbai Airport is being developed, along with a Metro link connecting Mumbai Airport to Navi Mumbai Airport, which will ensure seamless transit for daily commuters.

With the Union Budget’s provision to build three crore houses across India, Maharashtra is set to contribute by constructing between 20 to 25 lakh homes, Shinde announced. He added that new housing policies aim to bring back Mumbaikars who have moved out due to high property prices. To accelerate housing development, stalled projects will be revived through coordinated efforts by CIDCO, MMRDA, MSRDC, MahaPrith, BMC, MHADA, and SRA. These projects will not only ensure affordable homes but will also provide essential amenities such as open spaces, schools, playgrounds, and medical facilities, he added.

Addressing concerns raised by environmental activists regarding the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL), Shinde reassured that eco-friendly measures like noise barriers and circulation drains have helped increase the flamingo population instead of harming it. He emphasized that this demonstrates the government’s commitment to sustainable urban development.

Shinde also announced that the government will introduce a new housing policy that will include affordable housing for all income groups, rental homes, student hostels, housing for working women, homes for senior citizens, and housing for mill workers and dabbawalas. This initiative aims to make homeownership accessible to every segment of society, ensuring that Maharashtra remains at the forefront of affordable and sustainable urban housing.