New rental housing policy for low-income groups in MMR soon
3 min readMumbaiSep 19, 2025 01:32 AM IST
First published on: Sep 19, 2025 at 01:32 AM IST
The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) will soon introduce a new independent rental housing policy for the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), aimed at addressing the housing needs of economically weaker sections.
The draft policy is expected to be ready within a month and will be placed before the MHADA authority for approval before being sent to the state government for final clearance.
According to officials, the policy will first be implemented in the MMR where housing demand is highest and will later be extended across the state.
The move comes against the backdrop of soaring property prices in Mumbai, Thane, and Navi Mumbai, which have placed home ownership out of reach for low-income groups.
While MHADA’s housing lotteries continue to see heavy demand, the number of flats available remains limited, officials said.
“MHADA is preparing a comprehensive rental housing policy for the entire state, with priority implementation in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The policy will cover allotment rules, rent structure, and maintenance responsibilities, and the draft will be ready within a month,” said Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President, MHADA.
The policy will outline modalities for developing rental housing through both MHADA and private developers. It will also define allotment rules, rent structures, and responsibilities for maintenance.
Officials added that with the Union government’s plan to develop MMR as an international growth hub, a significant rise in population is expected due to increased employment and educational opportunities.
Rental housing has, therefore, been given priority in the development framework.
Meanwhile, MHADA will also push for group redevelopment projects in Mumbai. This includes the redevelopment of MHADA colonies and cess-based buildings, a move expected to create additional housing stock while providing larger homes and more open spaces for existing residents.
Meanwhile, MHADA is not likely to conduct its Mumbai housing lottery this year, despite earlier plans to release 5,000 flats during Diwali.
The draw has now been deferred to March–April 2026, officials confirmed.
The delay is due to insufficient housing stock, including around 2,500 flats from the Patra Chawl project, which had been stalled over environmental clearances.
With approvals now in place, construction is expected to resume, MHADA Vice President Sanjeev Jaiswal said.
The postponement also takes into account the upcoming civic elections and the enforcement of the model code of conduct. The next draw will be held in the 2025–26 financial year.
MHADA launches AI chatbot
Meanwhile, MHADA has introduced an AI-powered chatbot service named “MHADASathi” on its official website.
The tool will allow citizens, lottery winners, existing residents, and tenants of cess-based buildings to access information in a simplified and interactive manner. The service was launched on Thursday by MHADA vice-president Sanjeev Jaiswal.
This content is sourced from indianexpress.com and is shared for informational purposes only.
