MHADA Umarkhadi Redevelopment to Offer 500-Sq-Ft Homes

MHADA Repair Board to Redevelop 36 Buildings in First Phase

The Mumbai Building Repair and Redevelopment Board under MHADA has proposed a major redevelopment plan for Umarkhadi in Byculla. Unlike the Construction and Development Agency (C&D) model, the Repair Board will take up the redevelopment directly, following a model similar to the redevelopment approach used for BDD chawls.

The plan covers 81 cessed and PMGP buildings spread across about 6.23 acres in the Umarkhadi area. The redevelopment will be completed in two phases. For the first phase, the proposal covering 36 buildings has been submitted to the Housing Department for approval.

MHADA officials, including Sanjeev Jaiswal, are overseeing efforts to move the redevelopment proposal forward and improve housing conditions for residents.

Residents to Get Larger 500-Square-Foot Homes

One of the key features of the plan is the proposed increase in home sizes for existing residents. Under the proposal, 1,928 eligible residents currently living in 180-square-foot homes will receive 500-square-foot homes after redevelopment.

The larger homes are expected to provide residents with more comfortable and improved living spaces. The Repair Board has prepared the redevelopment proposal with the aim of improving housing conditions while creating a planned residential development in Umarkhadi.

36 Buildings Included in First Phase

The 81 buildings in the Umarkhadi area will be redeveloped in two stages. The first phase will cover 36 buildings, and the proposal for this phase has already been sent to the Housing Department for approval.

Work on the proposal for the remaining buildings under the second phase is expected to begin soon. Once prepared, the second-phase proposal will also be submitted to the Housing Department for approval.

Redevelopment to Create Additional MHADA Housing

The project is also expected to create a substantial number of additional homes for MHADA. According to information from sources, the redevelopment across both phases could provide additional housing space covering around 7.5 lakh square feet.

These additional homes are expected to be offered for sale through a future MHADA lottery, providing more opportunities for people looking for affordable housing in Mumbai.

Umarkhadi to Follow Direct Redevelopment Model

The decision to have the Repair Board handle the project directly marks an important change from the C&D approach. The Board is planning the redevelopment on its own, similar to the model followed for BDD redevelopment projects.

The Repair Board is also working on group redevelopment plans for Kamathipura under the C&D model. While that process continues, the Umarkhadi project will move forward under the direct redevelopment approach proposed by MHADA.

Focus on Better Housing and More Homes

The Umarkhadi redevelopment plan aims to address the housing needs of existing residents while making better use of the available land. Residents currently living in compact 180-square-foot homes are proposed to receive 500-square-foot homes, while the project could also add a large number of homes to MHADA's housing stock.

With the first-phase proposal now submitted for approval, the redevelopment process is expected to move toward the next stage once the Housing Department gives its clearance.