Cpwd to spend rs70 lakh for renovating speaker sumitra mahajan's bungalow

The CPWD is expected to finish the renovation work by August 15 When the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) was renovating 7 Race Course Road before Narendra Modi was to move in after

taking over as prime minister, Modi did not ask for any renovations. Several other ministers too followed suit. But Lok Sabah speaker and MP from Indore, Sumitra Mahajan does not hold the

same view. The CPWD will spend about Rs70 lakh to renovate the bunglow allotted to her. The office of the speaker, however, denied having made any demand to the CPWD. The speaker's

office said the house was handed over to the speaker in a very bad shape and that it had not undergone any repair for the past five years. "Floor tiles, roof is damaged at several

places. Walls have developed cracks. All these are the basic repairs that the house requires and the speaker has not asked for anything extra," said her office. Meanwhile, the Type 8

bungalow on Akbar Road in the Lutyens Bungalow Zone, where the speaker is to move in, is undergoing a complete makeover. The department has a deadline of August 15 to hand over the house to

her. Except for basic structure of the house, almost everything is undergoing changes. Sources informed that the speaker has asked for a wooden floor in all the rooms. "The floor tiles

will be replaced with wooden floor. Some 38 doors and 26 windows have to be changed," said an officer. New air conditioners and room heaters are being installed in the house for which

the entire electric wiring is being changed. The CPWD has ordered new fancy lights for the house and lawns. The officer also informed that the speaker has a long list of furniture most of

which will have to be procured. Drapes and fabrics for sofas, beds and curtains all are being changed. Tiles and bath fittings and furniture in the kitchen is being replaced. The speaker

also wants new tiles in the lawn, and has some specific demands for plants too. "Except for the basic structure, which cannot be changed, everything in the house will be new," said

an officer. The CPWD has estimated that the cost of the civil work alone will be about Rs35 lakh. "New electrical fittings, fancy lights, lamp shades, air conditioners and room heaters

in the house is going to cost CPWD another Rs30 lakh," added the officer. The officer also informed that it is a rough estimate and in all probability is likely to go up as the

security aspect of the house is yet to be looked at. However for most of other renovations, the department is spending an average of Rs10 lakh to Rs15 lakh. "They are huge houses and if

the house is being vacated after five years, it will need some repairs," explained the officer. The officer, however, informed that most of the MPs otherwise have had minimum demands

and are accepting the houses as per their entitlement.