Union Ministers Compete For Official Bungalows In Lutyens' Delhi

As one-month marked since it has been formed, members of Modi 3.0 government is contesting for getting the best official accommodation. The official bungalows in Lutyens’ Delhi is the most wanted place for newly-formed Modi government.

As per a TOI report, a particular bungalow on Akbar Road, is highly sought-after as nearly four senior ministers, including a former chief minister and a key alliance partner of NDA have placed requests for allotment. Similarly, another bungalow on Safdarjung Road is also much in demand among ministers.

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Besides, some new council of ministers including an alliance partner in Bihar, have put in demand for allotment of bungalows on Sunehri Bagh, which have been vacated by two former ministers, the TOI reports.

Before placing their request to the housing and urban affairs ministry, some ministers have also looked at the bungalows, it added.

The requests for accommodation of bungalows were were referred to Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday, who heads the Cabinet Committee of Accommodation.

Besides better interiors, these high-end bungalows reflects status and privilege.

Manohar Lal Khattar’s ministry, housing and urban affairs, is overseeing the reallocation of official residences to the newly appointed ministers. The directorate of estates under the Housing ministry is responsible for allocating residences to Union Ministers and they are eligible for the top category of bungalows known as Type-VIII.

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The ministry which undertakes accommodations under ‘General Pool’ category, allocates arrangements to all ministers in the Lutyens’ Bungalow Zone (LBZ).

The Housing ministry so far had written to nearly 50 former Union ministers and MPs to vacate their official residence. Former ministers and MPs are needed to move out of government accommodations within a month after they lose ministerial position or membership of either House of Parliament as per the rules.

The government resorts to employing eviction notices, if the residents failed to move out within the deadline. However, to date no ministers has officially sought any extension to keep their official residence, the TOI reports as sources are saying.