BDD Chawls in Worli.
Credit: Special Arrangement
Mumbai: The BDD Chawls in Worli have witnessed Mumbai’s transformation from ‘Bombay to Mumbai’ and ‘Mills to Malls’.
The abbreviation BDD stands for Bombay Development Directorate. Built about a century ago, these chawls hold a special place in Mumbai’s history for their role in the freedom struggle and in the city’s political, social, and cultural life.
The Bombay Development Department was set up by Sir George Lloyd, then Governor of Bombay Province, to tackle housing shortages amid rapid industrial growth. Between 1921 and 1924, the BDD constructed hundreds of matchbox-style dwellings. The unique chawl culture has since been immortalised in essays, documentaries, and Marathi, Hindi, and English literature.
In 1937, Mahatma Gandhi spent a night with the Mehtar Samaj (sweepers) here. Dr B.R. Ambedkar, architect of the Indian Constitution, was also a frequent visitor.
Over recent years, the BDD Chawls have been undergoing one of Asia’s most ambitious urban renewal drives. The redevelopment, led by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority’s (MHADA) Mumbai Housing and Area Development Board, is in collaboration with Tata Projects Ltd and Capacit’e Infraprojects Ltd.
The Worli BDD Chawl Redevelopment Project, once home to aging and dilapidated structures, will be transformed into a modern urban habitat with 33 high-rise towers of 40 floors each. Each tower will have spacious 2BHK flats with a carpet area of 500 sq. ft., offering contemporary amenities while preserving a sense of community.
Eligible families currently living in 160 sq. ft. rooms will receive these homes free of cost and on an ownership basis. The project spans three locations — Worli, Naigaon (Dadar), and N.M. Joshi Marg (Parel) — and is expected to be completed in phases.
The towers will feature fire safety systems, branded fittings, three passenger lifts, a stretcher lift, and a fire lift. Each home will have one dedicated parking spot in a podium facility, with an eco-friendly garden on the seventh floor. Interiors will include vitrified tile flooring, granite kitchen platforms, aluminium-framed windows, and high-quality plumbing.
On the eve of Independence Day, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis handed over 556 flats under the Worli project. He personally presented keys to 15 beneficiaries. Fadnavis was joined by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
“These are not just chawls but a part of Mumbai’s history and development. These tenements are linked to India’s freedom struggle and social and cultural movements,” Fadnavis said.
“The redevelopment is not just about constructing new buildings, but about restoring dignity, comfort, and security to thousands of Mumbaikars who have waited for decades. Guided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of inclusive urban development, we have ensured 500 sq. ft. homes with world-class amenities. The project was awarded through a global tender to reputed firms like Tata Projects and Capacit’e Infraprojects. This is proof that with the right intent and execution, transformation is possible,” he added.
Veteran infrastructure expert Varun Singh called it “a rare achievement in Indian politics,” noting that Fadnavis initiated the project in his first tenure and is now handing over the first completed homes.
Families are moving from cramped 160 sq. ft. units into modern 500 sq. ft. flats. The full redevelopment covers about 86 acres, including roughly 207 chawls across Worli, Parel, and Naigaon, and will rehabilitate 15,593 families in total.