To monitor BDD chawl redvpt, MHADA looks for consultant

As the Rs 17,000-crore worth project for redeveloping the century-old Bombay Development Directorate (BDD) chawls has finally kick-started after years of roadblocks, the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board is now searching for a real estate consultant to monitor the mega work.

A constituent of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the Mumbai Housing Board will appoint a consultant, who will be largely responsible to oversee that the contractors are carrying the work in sync with the approved plans, an official said.

Spread across the prime locations of Naigaon, Worli and NM Joshi Marg, the BDD chawls have weathered a century, after they were built by Britishers. The contract for the Worli chawl redevelopment was awarded in January 2019, while the contracts for the Naigaon and NM Joshi Marg chawl were signed in March, 2017.

The project was first proposed by the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government helmed by ex-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Later, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government held a second ground-breaking ceremony for the project.

On May 5, housing minister Jitendra Awhad informed that the new building

The project was first proposed by the BJP-Shiv Sena coalition government helmed by ex-chief minister Devendra Fadnavis

excavation work has begun at the Naigaon BDD project. The redevelopment work here was particularly delayed for almost eight years, and the FPJ had extensively reported about the delays. The project gathered pace after the MHADA conceded to the chawl residents' demand of making a single agreement for transit and new flats, which will be allotted to them in the upcoming buildings.

Before Naigaon BDD redevelopment excavation work, the construction work for new buildings was only active at the Worli site.

After allotting houses to the original tenants, the Mumbai Housing Board is eyeing windfall by selling surplus flats through lottery system in the open market.