Mhada to hold 1 more lottery around Diwali Over 1,200 Win Homes In Friday’s Draw

Mumbai: In a first, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) is planning to hold a second round of lottery for 2,450 under-construction flats around Diwali this year. The flats, which would be completed early next year, would be located in Virar, said Mhada vicechairman Satish Gavai. 

    Till now, Mhada has held only one lottery in a year. 
    The government is encouraging Mhada to hold the second round of lottery in view of the 2014 general election, sources told TOI. 
    "Another 3,000 flats, most of which are located in Virar, will be put up for sale in 2014. I am not sure, but I don't think the election code of conduct will affect the lottery scheduled to be held on May 31, 2014,'' said Gavai. "Mhada has already made plans to provide 8,000-10,000 affordable homes to citizens on 60-70 hectares of land acquired over the past few years,'' Gavai added. 
    On Friday, the dreams of over 1,000 citizens came true as they won flats in the lottery held by Mhada. Of the 1,244 flats put up for sale, homebuyers won 1,204. 
    "All my life, I have lived in a slum. But I didn't want a similar life for my daughter. Now that I have won a flat, my worries are over,'' said Narayan Mudlidar, who works as a driver in a private firm. Mudlidar, who had applied for aMhada flat for the first time this year, won a 269 sq ft flat in Magathane for Rs 11 lakh. 
    "It seems I have been given my dues for my service to the nation. This flat will give me security in my old age," said exserviceman Pramod Sawant (62), who wona 305 sq ft flat in Powai for Rs 49 lakh. 
    Mhada received 1,500 applications for a single 1 BHK flat (437 sq ft) priced at Rs 30 lakh at Pratiksha Nagar in the middleincome group. This is the maximum number of applications received for a single flat so far. The flat was one of the most affordable given that Mhada's MIG homes in Kandivli cost around Rs 53 lakh. Next in demand were 62 flats in the economically weaker category in Borivli. Over 14,000 applications were received for these. THE WORLD IS FLATFIGURING IT OUT 
    Total no. of flats | 1,244 (572 highincome group, 354 middle-income group, 96 low-income group and 222 economically weaker section ) 
    Total no. of valid applications received | 87,647 or an average of 70 applications per flat 
    Flats won in lottery | 1,204 
    Flats kept aside for various categories | 40 (24 for the CM's discretionary quota and 16 for defence personnel, central government staffers as well as retired and sitting public representatives) WINNERSPEAK 
    Getting my own flat 
    after 21 years seems like a gift for serving the nation Kiran Nikam | RETD INDIAN AIR FORCE PERSONNEL 
Won a 740 sq ft carpet area flat in Gorai for 66 lakh 
    As I am retiring in a few 
    years, the flat cost seems to be high. My daughter recently got a job, so I believe I will be able to afford it D N Jagdale | JOINT CHIEF OFFICER, MUMBAI BOARD, MHADA 
MOST WANTED Mhada received 1,500 applications for one flat at Pratiksha Nagar, Sion, in the middle-income group. This is the maximum no. of applicationsMhada has received for one flat till date NETAS' STOREY 
    15 people, including 9 politicians, won flats for lack of competition in the category they had applied 
    Six of the 9 politicians won the most expensive set of flats (477 sq ft) at Tunga in Powai for 75.22 lakh each 
    The winners include MLAs Dadarao Keche (BJP) and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Shiv Sena), Sena MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure and former Congress MLA Kisanrao Khopade OFFICER ON BOARD 
Joint chief officer of Mhada's Mumbai board D N Jagdale won a 476 sq ft carpet area flat at Tunga Village in Powai for 75 lakh. Jagdale had applied for aMhada flat three-four times earlier, but won the lottery only this time