Ministry issues guidelines for development of retirement home projects

01 Apr 2019 Editorial Team

The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has issued the Model Retirement Homes Guidelines to lay down the requirements for safety, physical infrastructure and running of private real-estate projects developed specifically for those over 60 years of age.

The guidelines will be reportedly issued to all Indian states and union territories to incorporate the necessary changes. They espouse building design that is barrier-free and accessible for the elderly, including complete wheelchair accessibility, lifts with audio and visual signalling systems, anti-skid tiles in bathrooms and stairs, kitchens with gas leak detection systems, and power backup facilities in apartments and common areas. Besides, builders will be given additional construction rights (floor-area ratio) to take up such projects as per the norms.

According to Shrikant Paranjape, Chairman, Paranjape Schemes Construction, “Although the guidelines are broad, they are good. We have been doing retirement housing for the past 20 years and it is a welcome move for us. The guideline focuses on the aspect of entrusting the caretaker with some responsibility and covers residents too, so they are more organised and regulated.”

Further, the guidelines provide provision for medical facilities like on-site ambulance service, recreation, security and housekeeping, transportation assistance, yoga and fitness facilities.

Reportedly, the Ministry quoted from the India Ageing Report 2017 of the UN Population Fund to state that from 76 million in 2001, the population of senior citizens in India has increased to 104 million in 2011 and is expected to grow to 240 million by 2050.

Technology

29 Jul 2026

AI-Enabled Workflows Lift Profitability and Productivity

Organisations modernising frontline workflows with artificial intelligence, automation and real-time data are reporting stronger financial performance, higher productivity and improved employee engagement, according to a global study by Zebra Technologies and Oxford Economics.The research covered 1,000 senior leaders across retail, manufacturing, transportation and logistics in the US, Mexico, the UK, Germany, India, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.In transportation and logistics, 54 per cent of companies that improved picking and packing operations reported faster operational performance, wh..

India Leads Global AI Readiness but Implementation Lags

Indian companies lead global averages across all eight artificial intelligence readiness indicators tracked by JLL, but only 19 per cent have started making changes to their workplaces, according to the JLL 2026 Future of Work Survey.The study found that 77 per cent of Indian business leaders expect AI to change their office requirements, creating a 58-percentage-point gap between awareness and implementation. The survey covered more than 2,200 CEOs, CFOs and real estate leaders across 21 countries during the first quarter of 2026.Despite concerns over automation, 58 per cent of Indian leaders..

Three WOLFF Cranes Build Riyadh Cable-Stayed Bridges

Three WOLFF 180 B luffing jib cranes are supporting the construction of two cable-stayed bridges alongside the existing Wadi Laban Bridge in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The project is being developed for the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and executed by the ICRC joint venture comprising IC Ictas and Al Rashid Trading & Contracting Company.The cranes are handling lifting operations including formwork, reinforcement, concrete placement, work platforms, surveying equipment and other construction materials. Each crane is fitted with a 40 m jib, reaches a hook height of 157 m and offers a maximum ..