MHADA Extends Pune Housing Lottery Deadline, Opening a Bigger Window for Homebuyers in 2025

The momentum for Mumbai’s affordable housing mission continues to build under the focused leadership of IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice Chairman and CEO of MHADA, who has been instrumental in driving policy reforms, transparency, and execution efficiency across the state’s housing boards. In a major step forward, the Mumbai Board of MHADA has received long-awaited environmental clearance for its Magathane housing project in Borivali, paving the way for the construction of 640 homes under the turnkey scheme.

This development not only revives a ₹106-crore project that had been on hold due to environmental approval delays but also strengthens the pipeline for the March 2026 housing lottery, where these homes will be included for public allocation. The clearance marks another milestone in MHADA’s push to accelerate affordable housing while ensuring adherence to sustainable, eco-conscious standards.

From Delays to Green Approval: The Turning Point

The Magathane project had been conceptualized to expand Mumbai’s affordable housing stock through a turnkey model, a mechanism that allows faster, cost-efficient execution while maintaining design and quality standards. The Mumbai Board had awarded the construction contract to B.G. Shirke Company, a firm with proven expertise in pre-fabricated housing systems and public infrastructure projects.

Initially, the plan included 512 homes, spread across multiple income categories, on land parcels bearing CTS Nos. 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 196, 197, and 201 in Magathane, Borivali. Despite the finalization of tenders and issuance of work orders, the project could not begin due to pending environmental clearances, a crucial prerequisite for any large-scale construction in Mumbai’s ecologically sensitive urban zones.

After detailed revisions to design and density parameters, MHADA resubmitted the proposal with necessary amendments. The result: a revised plan for 640 homes, ensuring optimal land use without compromising green norms. This clearance represents both environmental compliance and administrative perseverance, reflecting how governance can align with sustainability without sacrificing public welfare.

The New Plan: 640 Homes Across Income Groups

The revised project blueprint significantly expands inclusivity and social equity. Instead of the earlier 512 units, the approved plan now includes:

•    124 transitional camp houses
•    258 units for the Low-Income Group (LIG)
•    130 units for the Very Low-Income Group (V-LIG)
•    128 units for the High-Income Group (HIG)

Each housing block is designed to balance affordability, accessibility, and urban aesthetics. According to senior MHADA officials, the transitional camp structure will be seven storeys high, while the LIG and V-LIG blocks will rise 22 storeys each. The HIG building, a 33-storey tower, will provide 128 premium apartments, integrating modern urban living with efficient land management.

This vertical diversification reflects Mumbai’s evolving housing design philosophy, compact, multi-income, and sustainable. By using modern construction technologies, MHADA aims to ensure these homes are completed within two to three years, setting a practical example of urban efficiency.

Integrating Affordability with Sustainability

Securing environmental clearance is more than an administrative requirement, it is a statement of intent. Under IAS Sanjeev Jaiswal’s leadership, MHADA has been emphasizing eco-conscious housing, ensuring every new project aligns with Mumbai’s broader climate-resilience goals. The Magathane project’s clearance reinforces MHADA’s commitment to building homes that meet both human and environmental needs.

Officials noted that newer housing projects are being designed with features like efficient water management, waste recycling systems, and energy-saving construction materials. Such measures not only reduce the project’s environmental footprint but also enhance long-term affordability for residents through reduced maintenance costs.

The March 2026 Housing Lottery: Restoring Hope and Transparency

With this clearance, the Magathane project will play a crucial role in replenishing MHADA’s housing inventory for its next Mumbai Board lottery in March 2026. The 2025 draw could not be held due to a shortage of completed houses, a situation now being systematically addressed through a new policy framework.

MHADA has introduced a progress-linked payment model, allowing allottees to pay in stages as construction advances. This approach mirrors private sector developer models but adds transparency and state oversight, ensuring buyers’ money is protected and progress timelines are met. Once construction is complete, possession will be handed over immediately, eliminating long waiting periods that often discourage applicants.

This model has been widely appreciated by citizens and urban policy experts alike, as it blends affordability with accountability, two pillars critical for the success of public housing in India’s financial capital.

Bridging Policy, People, and Progress

The Magathane project exemplifies MHADA’s evolving role, from being a housing provider to a policy innovator. By adopting turnkey execution, digital systems for application tracking, and proactive environmental compliance, MHADA is reshaping Mumbai’s urban housing ecosystem.

Equally significant is the symbolic message of the environmental clearance, a sign that sustainability and social housing can, and must, coexist. As cities grow denser, integrating ecological responsibility into development policy becomes not just desirable but essential.
 

A Constructive Step Toward Mumbai’s Housing Future

The environmental clearance for Magathane’s 640 homes is more than a procedural milestone; it’s a reaffirmation of MHADA’s commitment to citizen-first urban governance. With construction set to begin soon, the project embodies the institution’s renewed focus on speed, transparency, and accountability.

It also reinforces the importance of verifying project updates through official MHADA channels, especially as public interest and digital misinformation grow simultaneously. Citizens are encouraged to rely on MHADA’s verified platforms for draw announcements, project timelines, and payment guidelines to ensure authenticity.

As Mumbai prepares for its 2026 draw, Magathane’s story stands as a beacon of administrative persistence and progressive policy, demonstrating how leadership, when grounded in ethics and efficiency, can turn stalled blueprints into sustainable communities.