Housing project for Mohali mariners

The Mariners Welfare Society, a Delhi-based real estate company specialising in housing projects dedicated to the seafaring community, serving and retired, has plans to come with a project in Mohali.

The company is also eyeing similar projects in Derabassi, Ambala, and Dehradun. With the membership drive for the society yet to begin, H S Anand, president of the Society, expects good response.

After a recent marketing research report conducted by the Mariners Welfare Society, which said 8-10 per cent of Indian marine professionals hailed from Chandigarh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and the Jammu and Kashmir region, Anand decided to start projects in the region.

"With an investment of Rs 160 crore, the Mohali project will be spread over 10-12 acres," he said comprising a group housing complex, and have 350 apartments," said Anand, adding they were looking at Ambala, Derabassi, and, at a later stage, Dehradun.

With a super area of 2,400-2,500 sq feet, the four-bedroom apartments will be sold at Rs 30-35 lakh, according to Anand. "The apartments will be delivered to seafarers at prices far lower than the prevailing market rates," he said.

The high cost of land which according to Anand is 10-15 percent higher than that of Gurgaon and the non availability of a large chunk of land was a compelling reason for the real estate company not to come with a 100 acre project.

"We would have bought independent villas with the comfort of the farmhouse style living, if we had the land," said Anand.

The 1980 ex-Mariner said that he felt the need to start housing project for mariners to minimize the hurdles of the mariners in affording their own house.

"Being a mariner, I understand the difficulty faced by mariners while settling themselves after retirement. By having security and comfort of like minded neighbours , its almost like choosing your own neighbours," he said.