MHADA Forms 2011 on sale as lottery & results dates are declared

Mumbaikars can now finally be sure about their dream homes as the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) has finally announced that they would start accepting the application forms from April 27 and the lottery for 4,034 houses would be declared on May 31. " Vice President and Chief Officer of Mumbai Board on Tuesday in a meeting decided the entire schedule of the lottery," said Amarjit Manhas, chairman, Mumbai board.

The advertisements would be published on April 27 and from the same day online filling up of forms would be started. The submission of forms would be allowed till May 16. Though the allotted period of 20 days seems

to be very less compared to the earlier 90 days period provided to fill up the forms, MHADA officials are confident that the period would be enough.

"Since the filling up of forms is online, people can fill the forms even during the night time and hence this period would be sufficient" said Manhas. While Axis Bank has been selected for collection of applications, following MHADA failing to interest banks to be collection centres.

Axis has around 65 branches in and around Mumbai where the applicants would be able to submit their forms. The people living in other districts of State can also submit their forms and the earnest money deposited in the district headquarters of Axis Bank, need not travel to Mumbai. The amount of money differs for different categories. " The deposit money would be returned within three days of announcement of lottery to the people who don't win the houses," added Manhas.

The lottery would be a bonanza for the economically weaker section as around 80 percent of houses out of the total 4,034 houses are kept for their category. Though earlier it was said that the lottery wouldn't be having any houses for the higher income groups, there is a small share of houses for them too.

For the first time MHADA would be going for an online application of forms. The applicants have to go to the website of MHADA and fill up the application forms. Once the form is filled the applicant would have to take a printout of the same and paste his photograph on the space provided. Then he would have to sign the form and submit it at the nearby bank branch.

Since many people could find it tough to fill up the form online, MHADA has also provided a facilitation centre at the branches of the banks wherein the applicants would be assisted by the bank staff. Axis Bank has also tied with Sify, who has around 85 cyber cafes in the city.