Mumbai: 265 Chikhalwadi residents receive keys to their new homes

As many as 265 Chikhalwadi residents in Grant Road area of Mumbai on Wednesday received the keys to their new homes an official statement issued by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shindes office saidIt said that the resident were handed over the keys by Eknath ShindeAfter waiting nearly 25 years residents of the old Chikhalwadi area in Grant Road Mumbai finally received their new homes following the completion of a longdelayed redevelopment project the statement saidA total of 265 families were given the keys to their flats in the presence of Eknath Shinde Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra during a ceremony held on Wednesday The keys were symbolically distributed to several residents at the eventThe redevelopment of the old Chikhalwadi settlement had remained pending for more than two decades During this period as many as 36 developers attempted to undertake the project but were unable to complete itThe project was finally completed by Shripati Developers along with support from local legislator Parag Shah As the 37th developer to take up the project the company completed the construction work within two years making it possible for the 265 residents to move into their new homesLarger homes and modern facilitiesSpeaking at the event Shinde said he was pleased that the longstanding dream of residents to live in their own homes had finally been realisedHe said that under the governmentapproved cluster redevelopment scheme residents who earlier lived in small houses of around 120 square feet have now been provided with spacious 585 square foot 2BHK flatsThe new residential complex also includes several facilities such as a gymnasium a library and a community hall for social functionsMore housing projects in MumbaiShinde said the state government is working to fulfil the vision of Bal Thackeray who had once expressed the dream of providing homes to millions of people in MumbaiHe added that the government is encouraging cluster redevelopment projects across the city to improve housing conditions Efforts are also underway to accelerate stalled redevelopment schemes through agencies such as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority Slum Rehabilitation Authority Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development AuthorityHe also mentioned that redevelopment of Rambai Ambedkar Nagar in Ghatkopar involving around 17000 homes is currently underwayGift for residentsDuring the event Shinde suggested that residents receiving their new homes should also be given a small giftFollowing his request developer Satish Chaturvedi announced that each family would receive a 24inch colour television along with the keys to their new flatSeveral leaders and officials attended the ceremony including Sanjeev Jaiswal chairman of the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority and chief officer Milind ShambharkarRepresentatives of the Chikhalwadi Residentsrsquo Association including president Surekha Parab and general secretary Chintaman Dalvi were also present along with a large number of residents