This year, no Mhada houses for those with high incomes

If you earn more than Rs.40,000 a month, you will not be eligible to apply for affordable houses by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority that will be up for sale in the upcoming housing lottery. Naresh Kamath reports.

If you earn more than Rs.40,000 a month, you will not be eligible to apply for affordable houses by Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) that will be up for sale in the upcoming housing lottery.

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Of the 4,200 houses on the block this time, there is not a single one for the high-income group (HIG) that caters to those earning over Rs.40,000 a month.

Of the 4,200 houses that will be up for grabs this year, 2,500 are located in Bolinj at Virar, 150 in Vengurla and the rest are spread across Mumbai. The houses in Mumbai are located at places such as Sion, Mankhurd, Powai and Borivli.

Mhada homes are always deemed as attractive since its pricing is lesser than 50% or more as compared to the prevailing market rates.

According to Niranjan Sudhanshu, chief officer (CO), Mhada (Mumbai board), there will be no homes for those falling under the HIG this year.

“We mainly cater to those in the low-income groups who cannot afford houses,” said Sudhanshu. “As for now, we have no houses for the HIG, but will make some available in the market,” he added.

“Builders have jacked up prices to such an extent that even those who earn lakhs monthly cannot afford to buy a house in Mumbai. Hence it is important that Mhada does not discriminate on the basis on income,” said advocate Vinod Sampat who deals with real estate issues.

Seema Upadhyay, a communication consultant also said that those earning more than Rs.40,000 were always left with no options.

“Neither can we reside in slums nor afford private housing. If Mhada can give houses to politicians and actors, then why not us,” said Upadhyay.

Mhada houses are a great attraction, which is easily visible in the figures for the last five draws, where more than 10.38 lakh applicants tried their luck for the 14,809 houses put on the block.