chawls are often seen as “middle class” housing colony, Mumbai

Despite poor sanitation and living conditions, chawls are often seen as “middle class” housing and are often more affordable than much of the housing in Mumbai. Some chawls have shops or businesses incorporated into their structure, which provide employment or shopping opportunities to the inhabitants. Occasionally, scam call centers have been operated out of chawls. Families on a floor have to share a common block of latrines. Tenements with private bathrooms are highly sought after and maybe 50% more expensive than the price of a normal chawl
Chawls are typically 4 to 5 stories tall, with between 8 and 16 dwellings on each floor. These dwellings are known as kholis. A central staircase services the building and gives access to a long passage that runs the length of each floor. Many chawls are also built around a small courtyard, which functions as a communal space for residents. As many chawls are made with wood and often not subject to repairs, they become unstable or unsafe to live in overtime, sometimes requiring relocation of the residents for fear that the structure may collapse.
information curtsy – Wikipedia
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