India, May 31 -- Going by the number of applications received this year for flats developed by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada), the demand has nearly halved compared to 2024, when the previous lottery draw was held.

For the 2,640 Mhada flats on offer across the city this year, the housing authority received 97,613 applications till Thursday, the last date for submission. By Friday, the last date for payment of earnest deposit that must accompany every application, payment was received from 75,366 applicants, and the average number of applications per flat stood at 28.54.

In 2024, the housing authority had received 56 applications per flat.

"As per Mhada rules, only applications for which earnest deposits ...