Senior citizens to get Snehodiya apartments at reduced rates

Kolkata: The West Bengal Housing and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HIDCO) recently reduced the charge for stay at Snehodiya — an abode for senior citizens at New Town.

A single bedroom will be available at a cost of Rs 9.3 lakhs and the monthly fees amount is around Rs 24,900. Earlier, the rate was Rs 25 lakhs.

This would include all meals, common services, electricity bills, housekeeping and general medical facilities. For the best double room in premium floors (9th and 10th) one needs to pay Rs 17.50 lakhs and amount of monthly fees for two persons is Rs 41, 090.

The possession of apartments in Snehodiya will be handed over after the elections. The allotment will be done strictly on the basis of lottery.

Snehodiya will have all modern facilities such as wi-fi, CCTV, facilities for video-calling and a panic button, which has been installed by Webel. There will be a medical team to look after the elderly and 24X7 emergency medical services will be available.

"There is no need to put on the washing machine every day, no need to dust and clean the apartment, no need to pay bills or think about changing defunct fittings. Everything will be taken care of at Snehodiya," a Hidco official said.

The habitat for senior citizens has 57 double bedrooms and 90 single bedrooms. It has been decided that 75 percent of the price paid on entry will be refunded to the occupants or their heirs in case of vacancy.

It was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had given the name Snehodiya. The project by Hidco is a first-of-its-kind venture by any state government agency. Mackintosh Burn has constructed the building located just opposite Swapno Bhor— the citizen's park. Swapno Bhor stands on a 3.5 acre land and has a two-storied building housing a library, an auditorium and a coffee corner.