New Delhi: Public Works Department has cancelled a tender worth Rs 60 lakh for the renovation work at chief minister Rekha Gupta’s official residence, citing “administrative reasons”, stated official documents. The proposed work, according to the official document, was “renovation and upgradation of bungalow number 1, including replacement of electrical wiring, fittings and fixtures, and execution of various miscellaneous electrical works”.Sources, however, said the renovation project faced significant backlash, particularly on social media platforms, which influenced the decision. PWD has allotted two bungalows to Gupta on Raj Niwas Marg, one for her residence and the other as the chief minister’s official camp office. CM inaugurated the camp office last week.The scrapped tender allegedly included plans for installations of 14 airconditioners, several television sets and other electrical fixtures. According to the tender issued on June 28, the proposed additions also included 10 floodlights, chandeliers, wall illumination fixtures and an electric chimney. Bids were to be opened on July 4. According to the PWD tender, the total project cost of the first phase was Rs 60 lakh, which included supply, installation and commissioning of these units and appliances, with an execution period of 60 days.Twenty-three premium energy-efficient ceiling fans, 16 wall fans and 24 two-tonne airconditioners were to be installed, and the airconditioning alone would have cost around Rs 11,11,342, the now-cancelled tender stated. For illumination, several lamps, wall lighters, hanging lights and three large chandeliers were to be added to the bungalow, which would have cost Rs 6,03,939, according to the tender.Besides the electric chimney, the kitchen appliances to be added included a gas hob with electromagnetic burners, a 20-litre microwave, an LCD display toast grill and a water purifier. The tender also called for six geysers, a washing machine, a dishwasher and a larger RO water plant with a capacity for processing 50 litres per hour. Five 4K ultra HD LED smart television sets—four 55-inch units and one 65-inch unit—were also listed.A new surveillance system consisting of 14 cameras was to be set up and 10 LED floodlights were to be added to the compound for security, along with a new intercom system. BJP had built a strong campaign during the Delhi Assembly elections in Feb over the renovation of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s 6 Flagstaff Road official bungalow during his tenure as the chief minister. Branding the renovated bungalow as “Sheesh Mahal”, BJP alleged that the expensive modifications cost over Rs 50 crore and showed that AAP had given up on its principle of “representing the common man and austerity”.
