Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has chosen Bungalow Number 1 on Raj Niwas Marg, which was being used by the L-G Office, as her official residence.
This was one of two government bungalows allotted to her by the Public Works Department (PWD) in North Delhi’s Civil Lines. “The CM has decided to take Bungalow Number 1. As the L-G Office was operating here, the rooms and the entire structure were modified to house cabins, rooms were divided into two to three sections, and cubicles, etc. Thus, it needs to be completely repaired and renovated for residential use,” said a senior PWD official.
Bungalow No. 1 is a Type VII house with four bedrooms, a drawing room, a hall, a common hall or visitors’ hall, a servant’s room, a kitchen, attached bathrooms, a terrace, a backyard, and a huge lawn, said officials.
Officials said that estimates are currently being prepared for repairs and upgradation. “Once the estimate and sanction order are readied, the department will float tenders to execute the work on the ground. It will take about two to three months for the tendering process and for repairs to be completed,” said an official.
The other — Bungalow Number 2, earlier occupied by former minister and AAP MLA Gopal Rai — will be used as Gupta’s Camp Office. Officials said the CM plans to first set up her office to handle public hearings.
Officials said that estimates are currently being prepared for repairs and upgradation. (Express Photo)
Bungalow No. 1 was occupied by the L-G Secretariat, as it was vacant and not previously occupied by any minister, and was vacated earlier this month. The PWD has taken charge of both these bungalows, said officials.
Gupta has been living at her family residence in Shalimar Bagh for the last five months since taking charge as CM of Delhi. Officials said she was initially searching for a house in Lutyens’ Delhi, but did not find any option. The PWD also did not have a suitable house for exchange within the central pool.
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“This location (Raj Niwas Road) is closer to the CM’s constituency — Shalimar Bagh — the Vidhan Sabha, and Delhi Secretariat. It takes only 10 minutes to reach Shalimar Bagh from Raj Niwas Marg, and about 15 minutes to the Delhi Secretariat, from where the CM works and handles official duties,” said officials.
“The CM wants to start the camp office as soon as possible, as she meets the public every morning. A large number of people visit her current residence in Shalimar Bagh. Due to a lack of space, both visitors and neighbours face problems. Here, there will be proper space for officials to work and for people to sit instead of standing under the sun,” added officials.
Expanding on the repairs that will be undertaken, officials said rooms will be modified for living purposes. It will be painted, whitewashed, and cleaned. Pipelines and drainage will also be checked for faults. Besides, officials said, light fittings and floor tiles will be done up as per the new allottee’s requirements.
Officials said that as both bungalows are adjacent to each other, plans are afoot to demolish the brick border to interlink the CM residence and Camp Office via a passage. “This will be done once we receive the sanction order from the PWD Secretariat,” said officials.
Most Cabinet ministers in the new BJP government have already been allotted official residences in the city, said officials.
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During the second half of his 10-year tenure, former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal lived at 6, Flagstaff Road, also in Civil Lines, with his family. The house became the focal point of the BJP’s campaign against the AAP during the Delhi Assembly polls, with the former calling it “Sheesh Mahal”, alleging several crores were spent when it was rebuilt. The expenditure and the role of officials are under investigation.
