MUMBAI: Mhada conducted its computerised lottery for 2,640 homes at Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra at noon Thursday. As their names flashed on screen, successful applicants received congratulatory messages from the housing board on their cellphones.The flats are located in Vikhroli, Goregaon, Magathane, Gorai, Chembur, Bandra, Ghatkopar, Girgaum, Wadala, Powai, Mazgaon, Powai, Dadar and Antop Hill.Exuberant winners who were present at the venue expressed happiness that their dream of owning a home in the city had been fulfilled. The first winner to come up was the elderly Dattu Sangle. “I have tried my luck at several Mhada lotteries. I retired from my job two years ago and grew to think I would never win a flat. Today, I feel one must keep the faith — it will happen, if not today then tomorrow.”Another lucky bidder, media executive Satyam Singh said affordable public housing was a real need for people who cannot opt for expensive projects by private builders.Mhada employees benefited from a separate housing quota instituted for them. Deputy engineer Sarika Lokhande had been applying since 2013. She said, “I was unmarried then and as per my income I applied under the EWS category. I got married in 2019. Over the years as my income rose I applied under LIG and MIG categories but never won. This year I applied under HIG — and today I have won a 1,300 sq ft 3 BHK apartment with beautiful grand balconies in Magathane, Borivli, at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore. I am so happy! My message to applicants is do not stop trying if small dreams fail. Maybe God has something bigger and better in store for you.”Another Mhada staffer Shubhangi Nikam who is visually impaired won two apartments, one in the Mhada employees’ category, the other in the disabled persons’ quota. “I will visit both locations and decide which to keep and which to surrender,” she said.CM Devendra Fadnavis and deputy CM Eknath Shinde were unable to attend the lottery due to other commitments but despatched messages of goodwill. Meanwhile addressing the gathering, guardian minister for Mumbai suburban district Mangal Prabhat Lodha directed officials to take stringent action against developers who fail to hand over homes reserved for Mhada under applicable regulations. He stated that filing an FIR alone was not sufficient and, wherever necessary, such developers should be “sent to jail”.Minister of state for housing Pankaj Bhoyar, mayor Ritu Tawde as well as senior Mhada officials voiced their thoughts.
