Haryana’s retirement housing policy a hope for elderly
The Haryana Government recently introduced a policy to facilitate organised and secure housing projects for senior citizens of the state in order to address the needs of senior citizens who are able and willing to pay for such accommodation, services and facilities.
The policy released by Additional Chief Secretary of the Town and Country Planning Department (DTCP), Arun Gupta, states that such housing projects will only be allowed in residential zones and their area can span between 0.5 and 10 acres. It is to ensure effective implementation of the policy in urban areas of the state.
The sale of apartments in Retirement Housing projects by promoter shall be permitted only after registration of the project by RERA. All provisions of the RERA Act and the rules framed there shall be applicable to such projects.
who will benefit
The policy for dedicated housing projects has been developed in response to a growing trend of smaller family units and an ageing population. It is supposed to benefit those who live alone or in nuclear families. Each project must include a dining hall of at least 100 sqm, a medical room and a recreation room of 500 sqm. This should include space for a gym, indoor games and community activities.
Mandatory services
Among services that will be mandatory in such projects are: 24-hour ambulance service, physiotherapy and nursing facilities. The project management should have a tie-up with a nearby hospital to provide proper care in case of an emergency.
CCTV surveillance and trained security guards are a must. So is power backup for each apartment and uninterrupted supply for critical zones such as the medical room. All building blocks of more than one floor will be provided with lifts that are suitably equipped to accommodate users requiring assistance and using wheelchairs and similar equipment/mobility tools. The external and internal design of building would consider free movement of wheelchairs.
Other specifications
Each project site, according to the policy, must be located along with a 12-m road. The permitted maximum floor area ratio (FAR) is 225, and ground coverage should not exceed 40%. Up to 4 per cent of the total FAR can be dedicated to shops catering to daily needs.
The policy states that district-level monitoring committees will be established to carry out regular inspections to ensure that standards and amenities are complied with. An online portal will be set up to allow residents to register complaints and access information, and their grievances must be addressed by the Deputy Commissioner or Municipal Commissioner.
A tripartite agreement among residents, developers and service providers is required to clearly outline rights and responsibilities. The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, and the Haryana Apartment Act, 1983, will apply to these projects to ensure transparency.
The writer is retd Chief Manager, SBI
