Chennai: Kimberly, 65, and his wife Neeta, 55, an Anglo-Indian couple originally from Royapuram, left for Australia three decades ago in search of work.
Now, as they approach their golden years, they are planning to return to Chennai, specifically North Chennai, to settle down. They are looking for a senior living facility that offers the comfort, community, and familiarity of their roots.
Chennai, and Tamil Nadu as a whole, has seen significant growth in the senior living industry.Traditionally, areas like ECR, OMR, and Tambaram were popular retirement destinations, but with the rapid infrastructure development, affordable land prices, and enhanced metro connectivity, North Chennai and even Tiruvallur have emerged as promising new hubs for retirement communities.
“North and West Chennai have an advantage because many people who worked in these areas during their careers want to return and settle down nearby after retirement,” said P. Srikumar of the Association of Senior Living in India.
He added that areas such as Puducherry also gained popularity as senior living destinations due to their proximity to places like Neyveli, which attracted former workers. The large Anglo-Indian community from North Chennai that relocated abroad also desires to reconnect with their roots and settle in the area they grew up.
Sanjay Chugh, Director at Anarock, Chennai, mentioned the pent-up demand in North Chennai is now becoming evident.
“People are only just realising that there’s a mini-city to the north of Chennai. With the CMRL connectivity and ongoing govt projects aimed at improving the region, this area is fast becoming a promising site for senior living developments,” he explained. A recent survey by Elements Senior Living among 250 people aged 50 to 80 revealed that nearly 40% of respondents considered location the most important factor when choosing a retirement home, followed by affordability, which was important to 29% of respondents.
While areas such as ECR, OMR, Tambaram, and places within central Chennai are still top favourites for seniors, emerging areas such as Tiruvallur hold significant potential.
“We are launching projects in Porur and Kandigai, but areas like Tiruvallur also show great promise,” said Ashwin Kumar Iyer, director of Elements Senior Living.
The senior living market in Tamil Nadu expanded rapidly in recent years.
Industry reports suggest that the sector in India is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.78% – 10.78% between 2023 and 2030, with Tamil Nadu playing a key role in this growth.