The BDD chawls are a government-constructed form of worker housing built in the 1920s and originally modeled on army barracks. Due to their location in what is now a very central and desirable part of the city, plans to redevelop the site and increase the amount of built area are underway. Units inside the chawls are very small, at 160 sq ft per family, with few options for expansion. Some residents have taken to cantilevering off the back of their unit into the shared courtyard to gain space. The chawls have shared toilet and washing areas located on each floor. Over 200 buildings in the development sit on 93 acres and currently house over 16,500 families.
Photos: Kate Cahill