THANE: Thane on Friday, distributing 5,354 houses and 77 plots through a fully computerised draw. The ceremony, hosted at Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar Natyagruha, was inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister and Thane Guardian Minister Eknath Shinde.

Describing it as “a day of joy for thousands of families,” Shinde said the lottery marked the fulfilment of a long-awaited dream of homeownership and reaffirmed the Mahayuti government’s dedication to fulfilling the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s vision of “housing for all,” especially for Mumbai’s working class and economically weaker sections.

The event saw the participation of Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, MP Naresh Mhaske, MLA Niranjan Davkhare, District Collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal, MHADA Vice President and CEO Sanjeev Jaiswal, and Konkan Board Chief Officer Revati Gaikar, among other dignitaries.

Calling the event a “festival of fulfilment,” Shinde praised the transparency of MHADA’s digital lottery process, noting that it had strengthened public trust in the agency. “A home is not just four walls—it embodies security, dignity, and happiness for a family,” he said, adding that Balasaheb Thackeray’s dream of homeownership for every Mumbaikar was steadily becoming reality.

Shinde emphasised that Thackeray’s vision was driven not by politics but by emotion and compassion, aimed at restoring dignity to every citizen. He noted that MHADA has so far built over nine lakh homes across Maharashtra, and that the fact 35 to 40 people compete for each flat underscores the public’s faith in the organisation. He assured that the entire allotment process is conducted with complete transparency, free from political influence or favouritism.

The Deputy CM also highlighted that redevelopment of older MHADA and SRA colonies is ongoing, along with the construction of thousands of affordable homes in Mumbai, Thane, Kalyan, Dombivli, Mira-Bhayandar, and other areas in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. “We are not merely constructing buildings—we are creating homes that reflect Balasaheb’s dream,” he said.

To accelerate redevelopment and housing creation, Shinde announced that the government has entered joint ventures with CIDCO, MMRDA, and MSRDC. Over the next five years, around 30 to 35 lakh new homes are planned, backed by an estimated investment of Rs 50 lakh crore.