Delhi CM Rekha Gupta’s Official Residence to Undergo ₹60 Lakh Renovation

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd July: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s official residence, Bungalow number 1 on Raj Niwas Marg, is set to undergo a ₹60 lakh renovation this month, primarily focusing on augmenting electrical fixtures. According to a tender notice issued by the Public Works Department (PWD), bids for the project will open on July 4, with the work expected to be completed within 60 days.

The renovation plans reveal a significant upgrade to the Chief Minister’s living quarters. Of the total ₹60 lakh allocated, the tender specifies the installation of five televisions worth ₹9.3 lakh, 14 air conditioners costing ₹7.7 lakh, and 14 CCTV cameras valued at ₹5.74 lakh. The residence will also be equipped with an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) system at a cost of ₹2 lakh.

Beyond electrical enhancements, the renovation includes a range of new household appliances. These comprise 23 remote-controlled ceiling fans for ₹1.8 lakh, an Oven Toast Grill (OTG) for ₹85,000, an automatic washing machine for ₹77,000, a dishwasher for ₹60,000, a gas stove for ₹63,000, microwaves for ₹32,000, and six geysers for ₹91,000. Additionally, the bungalow’s aesthetics will be enhanced with 115 lamps, wall lighters, hanging lights, and three large chandeliers, collectively costing ₹6,03,939.

Currently, Chief Minister Gupta resides at her private home in Shalimar Bagh. She has been allotted two bungalows on Raj Niwas Marg; Bungalow number 1 will serve as her official residence, while Bungalow number 2 is designated as a camp office.

Gupta, who assumed office as Delhi Chief Minister in February, had previously stated her decision not to occupy the controversial former official residence of ex-Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at 6 Flagstaff Road. Instead, she vowed to transform the bungalow, which the BJP had dubbed ‘Sheeshmahal’ (palace of mirrors) due to its opulent renovations, into a museum. “We will make Sheeshmahal a museum… We will also fulfill all the promises PM Modi made. I thank him for choosing me for this position,” she had told NDTV.

The previous residence of Kejriwal had been a subject of intense political scrutiny and criticism from the BJP. A Central Public Works Department (CPWD) report released in October 2024 detailed luxurious renovations and high-end appliances installed at the sprawling 40,000-square-yard bungalow, which Kejriwal occupied from 2015 until his resignation as Chief Minister in October 2024.