Bhubaneswar: The works department has approved the construction of a one-of-its-kind centre for elders at the BMC-Bhavani Mall at Saheed Nagar.

The department of social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities had in March come up with the plan to create such facility, where all kinds of amenities including commercial outlets, health care centre, counters to facilitate Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID cards and more will be available.

The social security department has submitted the proposal for the centre, which has got the nod now. "We have received the proposal from social security department, and after scrutinising, the project got the approval. The cost for the project has been set at Rs 1.23 crore," said a works official.

The proposal has been drafted in consultation with the Tata Trust, which has designed the centre's model. After completing the construction, Tata will take steps to select the outlets for their opening at the wellness centre for food, beverages such as tea and coffee and units that will sell allopathic and ayurvedic products.

"We have named it Anand and decided to take the help of Tata Trust in running the outlet for the first five years," the department's joint secretary Debaprasad Dash said.

"Thereafter, the permanent members of the centre will take the job of managing it. If it succeeds, more such centres will be set up in the city and other parts of the state," he said.

Senior citizens also welcome the move.

"It is a good move of the authorities to set up such a centre. We always search for a place where we will get all things. This centre will facilitate our need and also give us a zone to sit and relax," said Ratikanta Tripathy, an octogenarian.

The state government had initiated the process to come up with such a centre in August last year when it was decided to form happy ageing and age-friendly centres for the elderly and other distress people.

Bhuabaneswar Smart City Limited is also making attempts to create facilities for the elders.

"We are working out on various plans under the smart city mission to create facilities, mainly for the elderly and children," said mayor Ananta Narayan Jena.

"The Saheed Nagar centre will add to our efforts and help us create better infrastructure and services for the people of the city," the mayor said.