The MHADA Pune lottery for 4,462 homes faces another possible delay after Maharashtra Information Technology Corporation Limited (MahaIT) suspended the government online services used for application processing, document verification and submission of applications with deposits.
The MahaIT system was taken offline from 4 pm on Friday for an upgrade and data-centre migration. The services are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, October 20. During the shutdown, applicants can continue parts of the registration and application process, but document verification will not be possible. Applications requiring verification and payment of the deposit cannot be submitted until the relevant services are restored.
The disruption comes while the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority’s Pune Board is processing applications for 4,462 homes made available under the 15 per cent social housing and 20 per cent inclusive housing schemes. Registration, sale and acceptance of applications began on August 14.
The pre-lottery process has already been extended three times because of technical difficulties. The latest extension allows registration and application submission until October 22, while the lottery is scheduled to be held on December 4. The Pune Board had planned to complete verification of applications received during the third extension and publish the list of eligible applicants before the draw.
However, around 11,000 applications were still awaiting document verification when the MahaIT system was shut down, according to the report. The pending workload could increase once the online services resume, as applications submitted during the interruption may also require processing. The system has reportedly been operating slowly for about 15 days, with applicants facing repeated technical difficulties while filling in their forms.
The disruption illustrates how a single shared government technology platform can affect access to public housing. In the Pune lottery, registration, document checks and application acceptance are linked to the same online workflow. When the system is unavailable, applicants may be able to begin the process but cannot complete the steps needed to establish eligibility and submit their applications with the required deposit.
The Pune Board had expected the third extension to be sufficient to finish verification and proceed with the draw timetable. The additional system shutdown has now raised the possibility of another extension, although no final decision has been announced.
Pune Board Chief Officer Rahul Sakore said the issue would be discussed with the MHADA vice-president before a final decision is taken on extending the pre-lottery process. The MahaIT services are expected to resume on October 20, after which the board will have to assess the pending verification workload and determine whether the October 22 deadline and December 4 lottery schedule can be maintained.
