MHADA Lottery 2026: 5,000 Affordable Homes to Be Announced by March 31

The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) is expected to announce the lottery for 5,000 affordable homes in Mumbai by March 31, according to Sanjeev Jaiswal, Vice President and CEO of MHADA. This announcement was made on March 5 during the launch of a new mobile app, DigiMHADA.

While Jaiswal did not specify the exact number of homes, it is anticipated to be around 5,000 affordable units. These homes will cater to a mix of economically weaker sections (EWS), lower-income groups (LIG), middle-income groups (MIG), and high-income groups (HIG) across various locations in Mumbai.

A significant portion of the flats in the upcoming lottery will come from under-construction projects across the city. Many of these projects are still in the early stages, with only foundational work or a few floors completed. As a result, possession of many of these homes is expected only after 2028.

The largest share of units, between 2,400 and 2,500 flats, is likely to come from the Patra Chawl project in Goregaon West. Of these, around 2,300 homes are expected to be earmarked for low- and middle-income groups, while the remaining units will be offered to high-income group homebuyers.

MHADA, the nodal housing authority in Maharashtra, has been instrumental in providing affordable housing solutions since its establishment in December 1977. To date, MHADA has constructed 5,05,802 dwelling units/tenements, including redevelopment projects, across the state.

The MHADA lottery is a government-run housing allotment system that offers affordable homes to different income groups through a computerized draw. This lottery is conducted annually in cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Nashik, and Nagpur.

In addition to the lottery, MHADA also operates the First-Come, First-Served Basis (FCFS) scheme. On February 17, MHADA put 118 apartments up for sale under this scheme. More than 70% of these apartments are priced below ₹2 crore. The price bifurcation on MHADA’s website shows that 40 flats are available below ₹1 crore, over 70 units fall under the ₹2 crore category, while 28 apartments are priced between ₹2 crore and ₹8 crore.

The launch of the DigiMHADA app is aimed at making the process of applying for and managing affordable housing more convenient and transparent. The app will provide users with real-time updates on the status of their applications, upcoming lotteries, and other important information.

This initiative by MHADA is expected to significantly impact the Mumbai real estate market, making it more accessible and affordable for a broader segment of the population. The upcoming lottery and the FCFS scheme are crucial steps towards ensuring that affordable housing remains a priority in one of India's most populous and economically vibrant cities.