The most important activity of the trust is providing Housing
essentially for the middle class, lower middle class and poor middle class
of the Community.
From time to time the Trustees have created colonies as under. They also perform
the enormous task of maintaining and repairing the buildings / flats at their disposal.
Trustees also look after a separate Committee of Management, which the three of
the senior most Trustees find place, besides Wadia Family, N. N. & R. N. Wadia
Trust Building, Cusrow Baug, Ness Baug, Rustom Baug, Jer Baug, Nowroze Baug, all
together having 1545 flats.
The Punchayet started its housing programme in 1912 when its first Colony was built
at Hughes Road, known as
Khareghat Colony. Sir Cowasjee Jehangir,
the 1st Baronet, offered to his colleagues to construct a building if he were given
a plot of land. After a deliberation and extending legal opinion, the Trustees offered
a land.
Today a part of this Colony stands on the lands donated by Khurshedji
Cawasji Banaji in 1838 known as the Dharamshalla lands and the rest on lands belonging
to the Doongerwadi property. There are about 37 buildings, (337 flats).
Next in 1925, Dadar Colony having 30 buildings (246 flats). In 1936, Gamadia
Colony having 19 buildings, (233 flats). In 1938, Captain Colony, 9 buildings (141
flats), Contractor Baug & Khan Estate at Mahim comprising of 27 buildings, (357
flats). In 1941, Sir Shapoorji Bharucha Baug came up having 18 buildings, (436 flats).
A. H. Wadia Baug has 1 building (36 flats). Dhunbai Wadi at Vile Parle has 2 buildings,
(37 flats). B. S. Panthaky Baug has 7 buildings (110 flats). There are 7 miscellaneous
buildings (99 flats). Godrej Baug has 16 building (474 flats), Modeb Quarters 1
building (20 flats).
It is very difficult to do justice to this Institution, almost 350 years old
like the Bombay Parsi Punchayet. It has passed through many phases, ups and downs,
and has faced all storms from within and without, a healthy social body, it has
been unique example for Bombay Parsi Punchayet to survive.
It has successfully evolved over the years, helping the Community Members in
every field. It should be the effort of every Parsi to see that this Premier Body
of the Parsis not only survives, but remain alive and ticking for the benefit of
its great Community.