MLAs are eyeing 300 plush Mhada flats

In a move likely to anger hundreds of prospective flat buyers wanting affordable housing, the state government is considering a proposal to allot 300 newly constructed flats in a posh area at Lokhandwala complex in Andheri (West) to housing societies of past and current legislators.

Keeping this proposal in mind, the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) kept aside 300 flats and did not bracket these with the 686 flats released for sale this week.

Mhada has constructed 1,088 flats of two and three BHK admeasuring over 800 sq ft carpet area in the sole high income group residential complex at Lokhandwala costing Rs44 lakh and Rs57 lakh respectively — a steal as the Mhada prices are about one-third the prevailing rate quoted by private developers in the area at Rs12,000 a sq ft.
Sitaram Kunthe, state housing secretary, refused to comment.

However, HK Jawale, chief officer of Mhada’s Mumbai board claimed that construction is still on at the HIG colony.

The legislators’ demand is reportedly being spearheaded by two cabinet ministers. The ministers claimed that the government had earlier allotted land in survey number 161 at Versova to housing societies of legislators. But since the land fell under coastal regulation zone, buildings could not be constructed.

In lieu of the flats at Lokhandwala, the government has initiated the process to change the reservation of land near Bhakti Park at Wadala from no development zone to a residential use, said an official.