New Delhi, July 08 : The Delhi government is considering converting the bungalow that served as former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence into a state guest house, according to official sources familiar with the proposal. The property, located at Bungalow No. 6 on Flagstaff Road in Civil Lines, has remained vacant since the change in government and is now being examined for an alternative administrative use.
Sources said the plan is at an advanced stage and includes developing the premises with facilities typically associated with state guest houses, such as a waiting area, parking arrangements and other basic amenities needed for official visitors. If cleared, the property would be used to accommodate ministers, senior officials and other government guests travelling to the national capital on official duty.
Officials indicated that the proposal is still awaiting approval from higher authorities, but the government is actively working on the idea as part of its broader effort to repurpose the high-profile bungalow. Like other government guest houses, the facility is expected to operate on a fee-based system for eligible occupants.
The development marks a new turn in the future of the residence, which had become one of the most politically discussed addresses in Delhi during Kejriwal’s tenure as chief minister. Over the past several months, the government has explored different options regarding the property, particularly after it remained unused for a prolonged period.
Even in its current unoccupied state, the bungalow continues to be maintained by government staff. Sources said around 10 personnel are deployed at the residence for regular upkeep, including cleaning, sweeping and managing electrical systems and household appliances installed on the premises.
The property drew widespread public and political attention after allegations surfaced over the scale and cost of renovation works carried out during Kejriwal’s tenure. The Bharatiya Janata Party had repeatedly attacked the former chief minister over the issue, referring to the residence as “Sheesh Mahal” to criticise what it described as an extravagant makeover funded at public expense.
The controversy deepened in 2022 when the Delhi government’s vigilance department launched an inquiry into alleged irregularities and cost escalation in the renovation of the residence. The inquiry was initiated on the directions of former Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena and focused on the Public Works Department’s role in the revamp of the existing house.
The allegations centred on whether renovation expenses had risen disproportionately and whether due procedures were followed during the execution of the project. The issue quickly turned into a major political flashpoint, with the BJP using it to target the Aam Aadmi Party leadership over questions of transparency and public spending.
The matter is also under investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The CBI probe was initiated following a complaint by Vijender Gupta, who was then the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly. In his complaint to the Lieutenant Governor in December 2024, Gupta alleged serious irregularities in the renovation and sought a detailed inquiry into the expenditure and approvals linked to the project.
The possible conversion of the residence into a state guest house comes against this backdrop of political controversy and ongoing investigation. While the proposed change in use does not alter the legal scrutiny surrounding the renovation allegations, it suggests that the current Delhi administration is seeking to put the property to practical government use rather than allow it to remain idle.
If approved, the move would also align the property with the state’s broader infrastructure for hosting official visitors. Delhi already operates guest accommodation for ministers and bureaucrats, and the addition of another centrally located facility in Civil Lines could be seen as an administrative convenience.
At the same time, the symbolic value of the property is likely to keep it in the public eye. The bungalow is no ordinary government house; it became emblematic of a larger political battle over governance, image and accountability. Any decision regarding its future use is therefore expected to draw close attention from both political parties and the public.
For the Delhi government, converting the bungalow into a guest house may offer a way to reframe the conversation around the residence by presenting it as a public asset being brought back into institutional use. For critics, however, the property is likely to remain tied to questions over how public money was spent on its renovation.
The final decision will rest with higher authorities, and no official announcement has yet been made. But if the proposal moves forward, the former chief minister’s residence could soon shift from being one of Delhi’s most controversial political addresses to a functional state facility used for official hospitality and administrative purposes.