Officials
said this novel model–DDA will build the complex while the Navy will
manage it–would allow elderly people to live with dignity in a
homogenous societal group. “Once completed, this will set a new trend.
Retired government officials can rent an apartment for a lifetime by
paying Rs 10 lakh and a monthly maintenance. The complex will have all
the facilities. There are several government agencies which can explore
this option,” said Arun Goel, vice-chairman of DDA.

Each
apartment, measuring 550 sq ft, will be allotted on the payment of Rs
2.2 lakh, of which Rs 20,000 will be a non-refundable registration fee.
The rest will be collected once the flats are ready. “Each allottee will
have to pay an additional Rs 10,000 every month–Rs 3,000 as
maintenance charges and Rs 7,000 to DDA to partially meet the cost of
construction,” said an official.

The
project was conceived when the Navy requested DDA to allot land for an
old age home. “If the land was al lotted at approved rates, its cost
itself would have made the project unviable. It was then decided to
develop a complex for retired government officials in a joint venture,”
said a DDA official.The land will now cost Rs 180 crore while DDA will
spend Rs 282 crore on the construction. Of the 1,550 apartments, 200
will be given to the Navy and the remaining will be distributed among
retired central and state government employees, other armed forces,
teaching faculty of government colleges and universities, and DDA
employees of certain pay scales. The units will be allotted with
lifelong tenancy rights.If the allottee dies, the spouse can use the
unit during hisher lifetime. “However, the allottee will not be allowed
to transfer or sell the unit and the ownership will always remain with
DDA that will reallot the unit according to the waiting list,” said an
official.

The
complex will have Metro connectivity and will be completely
self-sufficient with retail, recreational and healthcare facilities. It
will also have elderly friendly architectural features such as anti-skid
floor, hand rails and ramps.