Last week, the MTSU, an advisory body to the state government, handed over the task of conducting the study to two Pune-based organisations, the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics and the National Institute of Construction Management and Research (NICMAR).

While the housing shortfall in the country stands at around 25 million units, there are no estimates as to the shortfall in Mumbai or the rest of Maharashtra.

According to UPS Madan, project director for MTSU, there have been several isolated studies but no universal one that pegs the housing shortage specifically in the economically weaker sections, and the low, middle and high income categories.

The study aims at estimating the housing shortfall in A, B and C class cities. “It will also suggest solutions to meet the demand for affordable housing. Once the study is ready, it will be the base for every housing-related policy of the Maharashtra government,” said Madan.

The Gokhale Institute is one of the oldest research and training institutes in economics in India while NICMAR is a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, recognized by the central government and established by the Indian construction industry.

Professor Rajas Parchure of the Gokhale Institute said that the first step would be arriving at a figure on the actual shortfall through a physical survey.

Gathering of data from other countries on feasible solutions that could be adapted to cities in the state would be the next step.