Mhada has collected earnest money deposit of Rs 519 crore from applicants. Failed bidders will be given online refund.

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority's (MHADA) Mumbai Board has declared that its online lottery for 4,082 apartments will take place at 11.30 am August 14. The offline venue of the draw is yet to be announced.

TOI had reported in its edition of August 4 that around 1.20 lakh anxious bidders had been waiting for the announcement since the earlier date of July 18 was deferred. Each has paid a deposit of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1.52 lakh.

Mhada has collected earnest money deposit of Rs 519 crore from applicants. Failed bidders will be given online refund. Applicants pointed out that meanwhile, the housing board was earning lakhs of rupees by way of interest on this sum. However, a Mhada official dismissed this amount as "pittance".

The flats are located in Andheri, Juhu, Goregaon, Kandivli, Borivli, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Powai, Tardeo and Sion. The lottery includes 1947 flats under the PMJAY scheme mostly located in Pahadi Goregaon.

Addressing a press conference at Mhada's Bandra East headquarters Wednesday, state housing minister Atul Save declared August 14 as the date of the lottery. He said deputy CMs Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar will attend the event.

This was Save's first visit to Mhada since taking over as housing minister. He was apprised of the millworkers' housing scheme, BDD chawl redevelopment and Kamathipura redevelopment schemes.

Source: realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com