Members of Parliament (MPs) will now have a significantly larger budget for renovating their official residences, following a recent decision by a House panel to increase the allocation by over 230%. The revised limit has been raised from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh, a move seen as necessary given the frequent modifications MPs make to their accommodations, including offices and guest rooms.
Lawmakers residing in bungalows and apartments in South and North Avenues face increasing costs due to structural changes in older buildings.
A circular from the Lok Sabha Secretariat stated, “Members are informed that the financial limit for additions/alterations in MPs’ residences has been revised from ₹1,50,000 to ₹5,00,000 by the House Committee.”
The House Committee oversees all matters related to MPs’ accommodations in New Delhi. Lok Sabha officials noted that many MPs have requested the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) to carry out modifications to their residences. As the only authorized agency for government premises in the NMDC area, CPWD will review estimates and ensure compliance with existing guidelines.
The circular further clarified that “CPWD has been instructed to assess estimates submitted to the Lok Sabha Secretariat, ensuring adherence to relevant guidelines and rules. The revised estimates, not exceeding ₹5,00,000, shall be reviewed by the House Committee.” It also referenced the CPWD Maintenance Manual 2023, which states that no changes to a residence’s plinth area can be made without approval from the designated authorities.
In December 2019, then-Housing Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri informed Parliament that ₹193 crore had been spent over five years on renovating MPs’ bungalows in Lutyens’ Delhi. He also noted that there was no cap on government spending for repair work.
While Lutyens’ bungalows are heritage structures, the Modi government, in its second term, constructed modern duplex bungalows for MPs in North Avenue, replacing some older flats.
