MHADA lottery 2018: Results on December 16

Homebuyers can apply online for 1,385 houses from November 5

The Mumbai Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) on Saturday announced dates for homebuyers could apply online to participate in its affordable housing lottery for 2018. The lottery draw will be on December 16. The board has called for applications for a total of 1,384 houses from three categories -- economically weaker section (EWS), lower income group (LIG), middle income group (MIG), and the higher income group (HIG). Interested homebuyers can apply by registering on the MHADA website from November 5 to December 10. The lottery drawing will be at the MHADA head office, Bandra, instead of the Rangsharda Natyamandir, said Uday Samant, the president of the housing body. He explained, "Usually MHADA spends Rs 40 to 50 lakh on such events. Our head office has a huge campus and we can organise the lottery draw over here. We will be spared the expense and the savings can be utilised for other work."

There are 63 houses under the EWS category this year, compared to only eight last year. Around 8,500 people had applied for these eight houses. A senior MHADA official said, "Since there is more demand from people of EWS category, we decided to

increase the number of such houses allotted for the lottery. Similarly, the LIG category has 926 houses, MIG has 201 houses and HIG has 194 houses, all more than last year." People with a monthly income of at least Rs 25,000 can apply for the EWS category houses. The lowest-priced houses in this category begin at Rs 14.61 lakh and are located in Chandivli-Powai area. HIG houses are priced at Rs 60 lakh and above. Also, MHADA is offering two houses, priced at Rs 5.80 crore each, at Cumballa Hill and Grant Road respectively.

Interestingly, last year also MHADA had put 36 homes in Lower Parel area on sale and only two flats were sold, costing Rs 1.96 crore each, the remaining 34 were sold at Rs 1.42 crore each. This is because, out of the 36 winners, 29 willingly returned the houses after winning the lottery, since the prices were unaffordable.