1,000 low-cost houses in Mumbai, Mumbai suburbs in Mhada lottery this November

Homes will be in areas such as Ghatkopar, Wadala; Konkan Board lottery results out

Homebuyers looking for affordable houses in the city will get another opportunity to buy low-cost houses. The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) is putting up1,000 low-cost homes for sale in November this year.

A woman checks the results of the Konkan Board lottery at the Mhada office in Bandra, Mumbai, on August 25, 2018. (SATISH BATE/HT PHOTO)

Mhada will start accepting applications for these houses from September and will conduct a lottery around Diwali season in November.

The advertisements listing detailed features of the houses offered in the lottery and its areas will be published in a few weeks. These houses will be in areas such as Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Mankhurd, Wadala, Sion, Borivli, Goregaon and Mulund.

Housing minister Prakash Mehta said, “The lottery will be conducted by November this year. I have asked the authority to make the online lottery system as easy and user-friendly as possible for applicants.”

Addressing the delays for obtaining occupation certificate for Mhada buildings, which is a problem faced by lottery winners, Mehta said such pending or delayed cases will be expedited as Mhada has been accorded as the planning authority. “This move will facilitate speedy approvals for its affordable housing projects and will avoid unwanted delays in the future,” he said.

Pramila Davane, 28, won the lottery in her first attempt. Davane who was born deaf and mute, faced several difficulties in getting a job. After completing her animation course and securing a job, Davane’s family applied under the physical handicap category and won a house in Virar. Unable to express her feelings in words, Davane drew a sketch where she was happily surrounded by buildings.