Real Estate for Senior Citizens

Senior citizen-friendly apartments


Bangalore-based Alliance Group has launched Gardens@Orchid Springs, a novel residential project targeting senior citizens. The project to come up in Chennai is tailored to their need for healthcare, security and amenities and features that support the elderly.

According to Mr Manoj Namburu, Chairman and Managing Director, Alliance Group, the aim is to target specific niches to drive sales in the slow market.

Alliance which has primarily targeted large projects such as integrated townships is now also looking at various market segments to widen its market reach.

Gardens, for which statutory approvals are awaited, will offer 225 senior citizen-friendly lifestyle apartments, with a host of safety and convenience features such as anti-skid floors, grab bars in bathrooms and panic alarm buttons, and wider passages and doorways to enable free movement for wheelchairs, he said. Healthcare facilities like a 24-hour clinic/nursing centre through a tie up with local hospitals will also be available.

Residents can also utilise the services of a resident manager, service coordinator and various helpers, he said. These additional features would not be costlier than if the residents were to go elsewhere for such services, according to Mr Namburu.

These apartments have been designed by international architects, Surbana of Singapore, he said.

The apartments are available in two sizes: single-bedroom of 650 sq.ft at Rs 19.49 lakh and two-bedroom of 890 sq.ft at Rs 26.69 lakh, at a launch rate of Rs 2,999/sq.ft.

Located near Anna Nagar, Gardens@Orchid Springs apartments will be part of a secure, gated facility with community centre, parks, and library.

The complex will have in its vicinity grocery and departmental stores, an ATM and a chemist shop.

Maintenance and housekeeping services, common pool of chauffeur-driven cars, and guestrooms on payment will also be provided for the residents, according to a press release.

Tata BlueScope gets FM certificate


Tata BlueScope Steel’s Building Solutions (BS) division has received the Factory Mutual (FM) Approval certification for its MR-24® standing seam roof system and BR-II™ roof panel lap seam roof system — both roofing systems of Butler™ Building Systems, according to a press release from the company.

For Tata BlueScope, the FM Approval is a certification for the product quality and reliability of these roof systems.

This approval qualifies the company to provide world-class Pre-Engineered Building (PEB) solutions to all the FM Global insured clients investing in India and the SAARC region.

The certification recommends better tested products against fire protection and loss prevention. Butler Manufacturing, a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc., and BlueScope Buildings (Guangzhou) Ltd are already FM Approved for the same products.

The release, quoting Mr H. G. Chandrashekhar, Vice-President - Building Solutions, Tata BlueScope Steel, said, “The approval will serve as a key market differentiator. As a leading supplier of world-class PEB solutions, the Building Solutions division of Tata BlueScope will now also be able to cater to the comprehensive PEB needs of all the FM Global insured clients, who seek protection for their steel buildings in India.”

Tata BlueScope is an equal joint venture between Tata Steel and BlueScope Steel, Australia, in the field of coated steel, steel building solutions and related building products.

The division is a leading supplier of PEB solutions that offers Butler™ Building Systems in India and the SAARC region. It provides a single source capability for the design, manufacture and erection of the premium Butler™ Building Systems to cater to PEB needs of the industrial, infrastructure and commercial sectors.