Chawl

A chawl (Marathi: चाळ) is a type of residential building found in western India, similar to a tenement.

However, due to the land being unequally divided, British merchants and officials lived in sprawling bungalows, leaving little space for the working class.

A central staircase services the building and gives access to a long passage which runs the length of each floor.

[4] As many chawls are made with wood and often not subject to repairs, they become unstable or unsafe to live in over time, sometimes requiring relocation of the residents for fear that the structure may collapse.

Tenements with private bathrooms are highly sought after and may be 50% more expensive than the price of a normal chawl.

[8] Infestations of insects such as cockroaches or centipedes are not uncommon either, and with no rules about littering, sanitary conditions are usually very poor.