98,619 Mumbai Mill Workers Eligible For MHADA Homes: Dy CM Shinde

Deputy Chief Minister and Urban Development and Housing Minister Eknath Shinde has announced that a total of 98,619 textile mill workers in Mumbai have been deemed eligible for housing under a special campaign jointly conducted by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) and the state labour department.

In a written reply to a question raised by NCP legislator Rohit Pawar and others in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Shinde stated that the campaign aims to provide housing to workers of closed and defunct textile mills across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). He noted that the state government had issued a government resolution on March 15, 2024, to facilitate this initiative.

The Deputy CM assured that the homes being offered in the MMR will be not only affordable but also equipped with essential amenities to ensure a dignified standard of living for mill workers. So far, 15,870 homes have already been allotted: 6,925 in 2012, 2,634 in 2016, another 2,417 in 2016, and 3,894 in 2020.

To advance the construction process, two developers have been selected through an expression of interest, following the approval of a high-powered committee. Online applications for housing began on June 16, and as of now, 2,094 mill workers have submitted their applications.

Shinde also revealed that the Urban Development Department has initiated the redevelopment process for 11 chawls located on land belonging to nine National Textile Corporation mills.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Shinde had earlier announced the construction of one lakh homes for textile mill workers. To support this goal and accelerate redevelopment, he instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive housing policy within a month. The new policy is expected to prioritise affordable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly housing solutions, and streamline access to MHADA and housing department schemes for citizens.