1.36L people gear up for MHADA lottery

According to Vaishali Wagh, chief public relations officer (PRO), MHADA, the lottery to determine the winners would be conducted in a transparent process

Approximately 1.36 lakh applicants will try their luck out on Wednesday for the 972 affordable houses ‎put up on sale by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA).

The 972 houses range between Rs 8.17 lakh for 261 square feet houses at Malvani to Rs 83.86 lakh for a 1,291 square feet apartment at Shailendra Nagar in Dahisar. (HT File)

This effectively means that an average of 140 applicants will try their luck for one apartment.

According to Vaishali Wagh, chief public relations officer (PRO), MHADA, the lottery to determine the winners would be conducted in a transparent process. “We will hold the computerised lottery system which will be overseen by a three-member committee,” she said. She said the proceedings will be webcasted live.

The 972 houses range between Rs 8.17 lakh for 261 square feet houses at Malvani to Rs 83.86 lakh for a 1,291 square feet apartment at Shailendra Nagar in Dahisar. Other areas where houses are put on sale include Borivli, Chandivli, Goregaon, Chembur, Kurla and Mankhurd.

Shrikant Jani, who works at a private firm and is applying for an apartment in Pratiksha Nagar for the first time said, “I am living in a rented house for the last one decade and would like to own an apartment in the city. For people like me, MHADA offers an attractive deal unlike the private builders.”

MHADA houses are a great attraction and this can be gauged from the fact that in the last nine draws alone, more than 13.58lakh applicants tried their luck for the 22,923 houses put up for sale.

BOX 1

MHADA houses are a great attraction which can be gauged from the fact that in the last nine draws, more than 13.58 lakh applicants tried their luck for the 22923 houses put on the block.

Year Number of houses Applicants

2008 870 65640

2009 3863 4.30 lakh

2010 3449 3.28 lakh

2011 4034 1.40 lakh

2012 2593 1.38 lakh

2013 1244 87647

2014264193103

2015 1063 1.25 lakh

2016 42751.30 lakh

Box 2

Why MHADA Houses are preferred

1)MHADA houses are cheaper compared to those constructed by private builders.

2)MHADA lands have clear titles.

3)MHADA charges on Carpet area unlike private builders who charge on built up.

4)MHADA ensures Occupation Certificate (OC) for its buildings unlike many private builders who exit the project leaving buyers in the lurch.