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Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has directed authorities to initiate stringent legal action against developers who have failed to hand over homes reserved for the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA). He said developers benefiting from additional development rights are required to transfer the prescribed housing stock, but several projects have remained pending for years. Lodha said stronger enforcement could make at least 1,000 additional MHADA homes available to eligible beneficiaries. The direction came during the Mumbai Board’s lottery for 2,640 homes, which received 75,127 applications.
Maharashtra minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha has directed authorities to take stringent legal action against developers who have not transferred homes reserved for the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), arguing that prolonged delays are depriving eligible citizens of housing intended for them.
Lodha issued the direction while addressing the computerised lottery organised by the Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board for 2,640 homes under various housing schemes at Rang Sharda Auditorium in Bandra West. He said developers who receive additional development rights are legally required to hand over the prescribed MHADA housing stock, but several developers have failed to complete the process even after years.
The minister said authorities should not limit enforcement to registering first information reports against defaulting developers. He called for stronger legal proceedings wherever required and said firm action against a few violators could establish a deterrent for others. According to Lodha, stricter enforcement could make at least 1,000 additional MHADA homes available for allotment to eligible beneficiaries at the earliest.
The issue comes against the backdrop of sustained demand for affordable housing in Mumbai. The latest Mumbai Board lottery attracted 75,127 applications for 2,640 homes, equivalent to an average of 28.54 applications for every house. Housing Minister of State Pankaj Bhoyar said the response demonstrated continued public confidence in MHADA’s computerised lottery system.
Lodha also proposed the establishment of advisory committees within MHADA to strengthen interaction between the housing authority and citizens. He suggested that these committees include public representatives, architects, housing experts, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. Their proposed role would be to increase public participation and facilitate faster resolution of housing-related issues at the local level.
The government is simultaneously pursuing a larger expansion of housing supply across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. MHADA Vice-President and Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Jaiswal said the authority has set a target of developing more than 7.5 lakh homes. The broader government plan envisages 30 lakh homes in the MMR, comprising 22 lakh through Slum Rehabilitation Authority projects and eight lakh through MHADA and other agencies.
Jaiswal said MHADA’s regional boards have conducted around 25 housing lotteries over the past three years, making nearly 50,000 homes available to citizens. He also outlined plans for group redevelopment projects covering 925 acres in Mumbai over the next seven years. These projects are expected to rehabilitate about 65,000 residents, while generating around 30,000 homes for MHADA and more than one lakh sale units for developers.
The authority is also expanding its housing mandate beyond ownership. Its plans include rental housing, working women’s hostels, student accommodation, old-age homes and housing for industrial workers. MHADA is developing a dedicated rental housing portal in response to growing demand for rental accommodation in Mumbai.
The next Mumbai Board housing lottery is expected in January-February 2027, with the state continuing to focus on increasing affordable housing availability while tightening compliance among developers responsible for reserved housing stock.
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