RTI Reveals Massive Rs 92 Crore Outlay For Union Ministers’ Delhi Residences In 2025-26

The Union government spent a record Rs 92.35 crore on renovation, furnishing and repair work at the official residences of Union ministers in Delhi during 2025-26, according to information obtained through an RTI query. The expenditure on the Lutyens' Delhi bungalows was more than three times the Rs 27.47 crore spent on similar works in 2014-15. The figures highlight the rising cost of maintaining the capital's ageing government residential properties, many of which are several decades old and require regular repairs.

According to data obtained by PTI through the Right to Information Act, the government spent a total of Rs 547.68 crore on renovation, furnishing, repair and maintenance of Union ministers' official residences between 2014-15 and 2025-26. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is responsible for carrying out these works. The Rs 92.35 crore expenditure recorded in 2025-26 was the highest annual amount during the period covered by the data, officials said.

The increase in spending has been attributed to several factors, including inflation and the wear and tear associated with maintaining old structures spread across large plots in the centre of the national capital. CPWD officials have previously highlighted a range of maintenance challenges affecting the bungalows, including seepage, termite infestation, ageing electrical systems and plumbing problems. Regular repair requirements can involve both routine maintenance and larger renovation work depending on the condition of individual properties.

Also Read: Brydon Carse Under ECB Probe After Being Handcuffed Outside Derby Nightclub

The most frequent repair and renovation requirements reportedly include electrical and plumbing-related work. Requests can involve replacing or repairing fans and LED lights, addressing plumbing problems and carrying out other routine electrical maintenance every few months. Floor tiles may also need to be replaced periodically, with such work required every few years. The frequency and nature of the maintenance depend on the age, condition and usage of the individual residences.

Many of the bungalows in the Lutyens' Delhi area date back to the period when New Delhi was being developed as the imperial capital. The bungalow zone was developed between 1912 and 1930, with the properties later adapted for use by senior government functionaries after Independence. Over time, the residences became an established part of the official housing system for senior public officials, including Union ministers and other constitutional and government functionaries.

The age of the structures has emerged as a significant factor in maintenance costs. An official said many of the properties are around 80, 90 or even 100 years old. Some, though not all, had reportedly become structurally unsafe and required upgrading. Over the years, there have also been discussions about the possibility of demolishing and rebuilding some of the ageing bungalows, although no such plans have been officially announced.

The official residences occupy expansive plots in one of the most prominent areas of New Delhi and require continuous upkeep. Their maintenance involves not only the buildings themselves but also associated electrical, plumbing and furnishing infrastructure. As the properties age, the cost of keeping them functional and suitable for official residential use can increase, particularly when routine repairs are combined with major renovation requirements.

The Lutyens' bungalow zone serves as accommodation for several categories of senior public officials. Besides Union ministers, the residences are occupied by Members of Parliament, senior judges and top military officers, among others. Their upkeep is therefore part of the broader government expenditure on official residential infrastructure in the capital. The latest RTI figures, however, specifically cover spending on repair, renovation and furnishing work at the official residences of Union ministers.

The Rs 92.35 crore expenditure in 2025-26 represents the highest annual spending on these works in the period since 2014-15. Compared with the Rs 27.47 crore recorded in 2014-15, the latest figure illustrates the substantial increase in the cost of maintaining the residences over the 12-year period. The cumulative expenditure of Rs 547.68 crore during the period also reflects the scale of public spending required to maintain the ageing properties used as official homes for senior government functionaries.

Also Read: Congress Targets AAP’s Hindu Outreach, Questions Use Of Taxpayers’ Money In Punjab