VVIPs to have fixed addresses in Lutyens’ Delhi

The musical chair played over possessing a Lutyen’s bungalow every time a new regime is voted to power may well be over, as the Governm...

The musical chair played over possessing a Lutyen’s bungalow every time a new regime is voted to power may well be over, as the Government is all set to fix the residences of certain VVIPs due to security reasons.

Just as 7 Race Course Road has been designated for the Prime Minister, the Urban Development Ministry proposes to have designated housing for the top-layer of the executive. To begin with, the Cabinet Secretary, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, the National Security Advisor, and the chiefs of RAW, IB and CBI will have bungalows earmarked for them.

In the second phase of the plan, specific bungalows will be reserved for all senior ministers in the Union Cabinet — the Home Minister, the Defence Minister, the Finance Minister and the MoS to the Prime Minister.

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Urban Development Ministry officials said they got the brainwave after studying the way the Armed Forces maintained the bungalows designated to them. ‘‘These are the best maintained as none of them are left vacant or in disrepair. The system of pack-your-suitcase once you retire works very well,’’ a senior official said.

As of now, only the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Armed Forces have designated bungalows. Once the first part of its proposal is approved by the Cabinet, the Ministry will go on to identify bungalows for senior Ministers.

Apart from maintenance, security concern was a prime reason for the Government to go for designated housing. ‘‘Every time a new Defence Minister or Home Minister assumes office, the security apparatus at houses allotted to them has to be upgraded, which means huge unsustainable expenditure. This (the proposal) would not only ensure that the bungalows are maintained well, but that the best security system is installed for good,’’ a Ministry official said.

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