Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s official residence, Bungalow Number 1 on Raj Niwas Marg, is set for a renovation worth Rs 60 lakh this month. According to a tender notice from the Public Works Department (PWD), most of the work will focus on upgrading electrical fixtures. The bidding process opens on July 4, and the renovation is expected to be completed within 60 days. Ms. Gupta has been allotted two bungalows: she’ll live in Bungalow 1, while Bungalow 2 will serve as her camp office.
The tender details reveal that out of the Rs 60 lakh budget, the renovation will include installing five TVs costing Rs 9.3 lakh, 14 air conditioners worth Rs 7.7 lakh, and 14 CCTV cameras priced at Rs 5.74 lakh. A UPS system worth Rs 2 lakh will also be added.
Other installations include 23 ceiling fans with remote controls for Rs 1.8 lakh, an oven toaster grill (OTG) for Rs 85,000, an automatic washing machine for Rs 77,000, a dishwasher costing Rs 60,000, a gas stove worth Rs 63,000, microwaves priced at Rs 32,000, and six geysers totaling Rs 91,000.
Additionally, 115 lamps, wall lights, hanging lights, and three large chandeliers will be installed, costing about Rs 6 lakh. Currently, Ms. Gupta is living in her house in Shalimar Bagh.
After taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister in February, she said she wouldn’t move into the previous official residence of ex-CM Arvind Kejriwal at 6 Flagstaff Road, a bungalow that has been controversial. Instead, she promised to turn what the BJP calls “Sheeshmahal” into a museum.
Ms. Gupta said, “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.”
The BJP had criticized Mr. Kejriwal over the costly renovations of the Flagstaff Road bungalow, which spans 40,000 square yards and was his official residence from 2015 to October 2024. A CPWD report released in October 2024 pointed out the luxurious renovations and high-end appliances installed there. Mr. Kejriwal vacated the bungalow after resigning as Chief Minister amid heavy political pressure from the BJP.
