In a significant relief measure for tenants of old cessed buildings, Mr. Sanjeev Jaiswal (IAS), Vice President and CEO of MHADA, today announced that eligible original tenants and residents listed in the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board’s (MBRRB) master list will now be charged only 100% of the Ready Reckoner Rate, instead of the earlier 110%, for the additional area allotted beyond the permissible or original area of their old residential units.
This relief will be applied retrospectively to beneficiaries declared eligible in the December 2023 lottery. Mr. Jaiswal has directed that a new policy framework be finalized by April 28, 2025.
At an event held at Bharat Ratna Gulzarilal Nanda Hall, MHADA Headquarters, Bandra (East), a computerized lottery was conducted by the MBRRB to allot 105 permanent tenements to eligible residents of old cessed buildings. Mr. Jaiswal personally presided over the proceedings.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Jaiswal, congratulated the applicants and recognized the difficulties they had encountered over the years. “I know that many of you have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Stability, security, and dignity are more important than property when it comes to finding a permanent residence. In many old and dangerous buildings, only the upper floors are demolished, leaving ground floor tenants in uncertainty. These residents were not previously regarded as eligible. We are going to change that; tenants on the ground floor will now be listed on the Master List and will also get the compensation they are due,” he stated.
MHADA is currently conducting a biometric survey of transit camp residents in order to categorize them into Categories A, B, and C in accordance with the Government Resolution dated September 13, 2019. Mr. Jaiswal ordered that residents of Category A, whose original building cannot be rebuilt, be given preference when it comes to being added to the Master List. Furthermore, he directed that if the redevelopment of dangerous cessed buildings is stalled, tenants/residents should be offered the option to be added to the master list. This includes those living in buildings acquired by MHADA post-Notice under Section 91(A).
Mr. Jaiswal added that, following directions from Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister & Housing Minister Mr. Eknath Shinde, a 100-day action plan has been devised to improve citizens’ lives. The current lottery is a significant step in this plan and aims to ensure permanent housing for eligible tenants and residents of old cessed buildings. Under this plan, the eligibility of 100 tenants/residents has already been determined. MHADA is committed to working transparently and people-oriented, addressing public grievances promptly through initiatives like Lokshahi Din and Janata Darbar. After many years of waiting, eligible tenants/residents on the master list are finally getting their rightful homes. Mr. Jaiswal also instructed the concerned departments to hold a new lottery within six months to determine eligibility and allot permanent homes to 100 tenants/residents from old cessed buildings.
The December 2023 lottery, which distributed 265 tenements, laid the groundwork for an effective and transparent system, lowering complaints and boosting public confidence, according to MBRRB Chief Officer Shri Milind Shambharkar. Residents who have lived in transit for decades can now obtain their rightful homes thanks to today’s event, which is the second such allocation under this framework.
The lottery was organised in five categories based on tenement size: 91 tenements of 401–500 sq. ft. (2 applicants), 28 tenements of 300–316 sq. ft. (28 applicants), 7 tenements of 501–601 sq. ft. (1 applicant), 1 tenement of 701–753 sq. ft. (1 applicant), and 125 tenements of 301–500 sq. ft. (73 applicants). MHADA will hold a 10-day special camp to issue allotment letters to successful beneficiaries.
Shri Milind Borikar, the chief officer of the Mumbai Board, Shri Anil Wankhede, the deputy chief executive officer, Shri Dhirajkumar Pandirkar, the chief engineer of MHADA, Shri Shivkumar Aade, the chief engineer; Shri Umesh Wagh, the joint chief officer; Smt. Neelima Dhaygude, the secretary; Smt. Vandana Suryavanshi, the joint chief officer of the Mumbai Board, Smt. Revati Gaikar, the chief officer of the Konkan Board, Shri Laxman Munde, the deputy chief officer, Shri Mohan Bobde, the deputy chief officer; and Smt. Savita Bodake, the chief information and communications technology officer, were present.
