DDA to build special studio flats for senior citizens

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will build 800 studio apartments in Dwarka exclusively for senior citizens.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will build 800 studio apartments in Dwarka exclusively for senior citizens.

These studio apartments will be small one-room flats that will have a combined bedroom, kitchen and living space. The houses will have a bathroom and a balcony too. The housing complex will have a library, medical facilities, meditation and yoga rooms, canteen and common rooms with a television. It will also have parks and walking tracks.

DDA officials have confirmed that the construction will start within a year at an 18,600 sqmt plot at Dwarka Sector 26.

Senior citizens aged 60 years and above will get to live in these flats after paying a rent that DDA says will be “reasonable”. Some agencies may be hired to collect a reasonable rent from these occupants.

DP Singh, chief engineer, Dwarka project, DDA said that the construction plan came up in November this year. “Those senior citizens who feel alone at home or face difficulties can move into these apartments in the future. They will be given all the facilities to live a healthy life,” said Singh.

Once all the rooms are occupied, the next applicant will acquire the rooms only if someone dies or voluntarily moves out.

The construction of the apartments will take at least two and half years to complete. DDA has recently floated expression of interests to rope in consultants for the project.DDA is also planning a similar project in Rohini with single-room studio apartments for senior citizens with participation from developers. The project would come up at Rohini sector 41-42 on a land measuring 5 hectares.The studio apartments in Rohini will be constructed through public-private partnership where DDA would provide land and developers will build, operate and maintain the complexes, which would have a common kitchen, medical facilities, common rooms, reading rooms, library, offices, gym, etc. The apartments would be given out on rent to senior citizens.