The much-awaited moment of receiving keys to their brand-new homes in the redeveloped BDD Chawls in Worli was supposed to be a joyous milestone. But for many families, it has turned into a stressful ordeal, with bureaucratic hurdles, unfinished infrastructure, and homes handed over without even basic facilities. While beneficiaries expressed happiness and gratitude for the spacious flats built by MHADA and the government, many are anxious about how to actually live in them without furniture, internet, or utilities.

‘How to shift in 15 days?’

As part of the first phase, MHADA handed over keys to beneficiaries, but only after making them sign an undertaking to vacate their transit houses within 15 days. “When we said 15 days is too short a time to arrange connections and shifting, officials told us to take keys only when we’re ready to move within 15 days. But is that even practical?” asked Bajrang Shankar Kale, allotted a flat on the 36th floor of a new tower.