Konkan board to release over 5,000 houses in Virar

For the first time in the history of Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), authorities of its Konkan Board would be coming up with a lottery for over 5,000 affordable housing units in Virar (East) in 2014. The important feature of this project is that all the units are being constructed on a 43-hectare plot.

Earlier, the MHADA had decided to release just 2,500 housing units for the lottery. Confirming the development, a MHADA official said, "The Konkan board of MHADA has decided to come up with a lottery for over 5,000 affordable houses in Boling area in Virar (East) by mid-2014. This will be for the first time in the history of MHADA that houses released will be constructed at one place."

The official added that a central feature of this housing project is that buildings that were to be constructed as ground-plus-seven-storeys tall would now be raised to 20 floors, as they have received a floor space index (FSI) of 2.5.

"We will be constructing 20-storeyed towers and all the flats will be for people belonging to LIG and MIG (lower and middle income groups)," the official said. Another benefit of this project is that the municipal corporation in Virar has reserved a few spots on the 43-hectare MHADA plot, where it plans to build schools, a dispensary, playgrounds and roads.

With all these amenities, MHADA officials think that the Virar housing project will be a huge hit. Another benefit for the lottery winners would be bigger houses. While units in the LIG category would be 400 sq ft, houses for winners in MIG category would be between 400 sq ft and 800 sq ft.

The approximate cost of an LIG unit would be Rs 3,350 per sq ft against that of Rs 3,950 per sq ft for MIG category. The official said, "We will be releasing 3,658 houses in LIG category and 1,729 houses in MIG category. While the overall cost of an LIG housing unit would be between Rs 18 lakh to 20 lakh, MIG houses will cost around Rs 35 lakh to Rs 40 lakh."