Why Coimbatore is becoming a hub for retirement communities

A growing number of retirement communities are springing up across South Indian towns and cities, from Chennai to Kochi. Coimbatore, however, has the maximum number of ongoing projects

Mohan L Melarcode, 57, who has lived abroad —for almost three decades across the UAE, the Netherlands, and now at Gilbert in Arizona — already has his retirement planned. By this year end, he will move to the Nirmala Nilayam Retirement Community (NNRC) in Theethipalayam, 15 kilometres from Coimbatore city.

“It is surrounded by farmland. There is very little noise and air pollution... it’s like a cul de sac that ends at the foothills of the Western Ghats,” says Mohan, who currently works for Edupoint Educational Systems in the US as a senior data services architect. He says he considered Pune and Bengaluru too, then zeroed in on Coimbatore because of its green environs. “I hope to volunteer for a good cause, trek, cycle, read, walk, visit temples, and travel around Tamil Nadu and India,” he states, adding, “If you live close to Nature, you will have a life that is well lived.”

According to recent reports by several leading real estate services companies, South Indian cities are increasingly popular for senior living projects with nearly 65% located within the region. Prominent senior living hubs in South India include Puducherry, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kodaikanal, Mysuru, and Kochi, with Coimbatore being at the top with the maximum number of ongoing projects.

Says Dhinakar Perumal, owner of NNRC, “With as many as 13 projects at various stages of completion, the city is indeed a hub.” Most projects are developed at picturesque locations including Pollachi, Thondamauthur, Dhaliyur, KNG Pudur and Vadavalli. The residences are designed with special attention to features such as wheelchair access, anti-skid tiles, and an emergency button at a reachable height.

“We modelled the villas as per the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards of the US. Then we increased the ceiling height to 11 feet to ensure that interiors are airy and incorporated traditional architectural designs such as sky-lit courtyards that let sunlight filter in.” He adds that they get queries on specific traditional structures as well, like t hinnai (a raised platform at the portico, a traditional architecture design in South Indian homes where people sit and chit chat) and o onjal (swing). 

Globally, senior communities are a sought-after service, especially in the US and Europe. The demand is expected to pick up in India due to factors such as an increase in life expectancy and the breakdown of the joint family system. “We have been getting enquiries from Maharashtra, Kerala, and Karnataka. They want a lifestyle where they can go for long walks in the sunshine, consume pesticide-free vegetables, and breathe pollution-free air,” says Dhinakar. “Over the last two years, the sale of apartments has increased by 20%,” says Colonel A Sridharan (retired), founder of Covai Care. He has developed 18 projects in the segment across Coimbatore, Mysuru, Bengaluru, Chennai and Puducherry.

At Covai Care, retirement homes come with a price tag of ₹50 lakh onwards (for two BHK depending on the size and location). “The idea is to make the homes affordable,” says Col Sridhar. “There is additional service and a care component that works up to ₹ 40,000 including three meals a day, medical services, and house keeping, electricity, plumbing etc. At Puducherry, we are developing 1BHK homes with a budget of ₹22 lakhs.”