The Delhi government is considering converting bungalow no 6 on Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines—formerly Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence—into a state guest house. Officials say the plan includes parking, a waiting hall, and other facilities, with paid stays for travelling ministers and officials. Final approval from higher authorities is still pending.
India
-Krishna Kripa
Official sources said on Tuesday that the Delhi government was working on a plan to turn bungalow number 6 into a state guest house. The property on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines earlier served as Arvind Kejriwal’s official chief minister residence. Sources said the building had remained unused as the former chief minister’s residence for some time.
The Delhi government is considering converting bungalow no 6 on Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines—formerly Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence—into a state guest house. Officials say the plan includes parking, a waiting hall, and other facilities, with paid stays for travelling ministers and officials. Final approval from higher authorities is still pending.
A senior official said the draft plan included a waiting hall, parking space and other basic facilities. Sources said the government was close to finalising the guest house set-up at bungalow number 6. Higher authorities had not yet given the final clearance, and the proposal was still pending approval.
Delhi government state guest house plan for bungalow number 6
Sources said the proposed state guest house would work like other government guest houses in Delhi. The bungalow would be used to accommodate travelling ministers and officials. Sources said users would pay a fee for the stay. Officials were still working out the operating details, alongside the final approval process.
Even though the bungalow was not being used for official residence purposes, staff continued routine upkeep. Sources said around 10 staff members were deployed at present. The daily work included sweeping and cleaning. Staff also operated electrical appliances, including refrigerators and air conditioners, to maintain the premises.
Delhi government scrutiny of Flagstaff Road bungalow renovations
In recent months, the Delhi government had considered multiple ways to repurpose the Flagstaff Road property, sources said. The bungalow drew scrutiny over a costly renovation carried out during Kejriwal’s tenure. The BJP had dubbed it the Sheesh Mahal palace of mirrors to mock the luxurious and controversial renovations to the bungalow.
In 2022, the Delhi government’s vigilance department began an inquiry, officials said. The inquiry followed directions from former Delhi LG VK Saxena. It related to alleged irregularities and cost escalation in renovation work. Officials said the Public Works Department carried out the revamp of the existing house.
Sources said the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI was probing the case at present. The probe followed a complaint by Vijender Gupta, who was then Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. Sources said Gupta wrote to Saxena in December 2024, raising allegations of irregularities in the renovation work.
Officials said the guest house proposal was still under consideration, along with pending approvals. Sources also pointed to ongoing scrutiny linked to the earlier renovation work at the same site. The next steps depended on clearance by higher authorities and completion of internal planning for the guest house facilities.
With inputs from PTI
