After a hiatus of three decades, the Public Works Department (PWD) is gearing up to establish an official residence for another Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) during the winter session. Ajit Pawar, who recently parted ways from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and joined the Eknath Shinde-Devendra Fadnavis government, requires an official residence in Nagpur, the state’s second capital.
With only one DCM bungalow, the lavish Deogiri in Civil Lines, already occupied by Fadnavis, the PWD is refurbishing the joint commissioner of police bungalow, Vijaygadh, for Pawar’s official residence. The makeover is set to be completed by November 30 at a modest expenditure of around Rs45 lakh, according to sources. Instructions from Pawar’s office emphasize simplicity and avoiding expensive materials.
The last official DCM bungalow in Nagpur was prepared in 1995 for BJP’s Gopinath Munde. Deogiri, originally built in 1938, underwent renovations into a two-story building at that time. The ongoing refurbishment of Vijaygadh includes extending the verandah, enlarging some rooms, partitioning the kitchen, raising walls to seven feet, and creating separate entry and exit points based on security norms.
Parallel routes will be arranged for the movements of both DCMs, ensuring their cavalcades do not intersect. While Deogiri stands taller by historical standards, the makeover of Vijaygadh aims to align with the stature of a Deputy Chief Minister. The simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the refurbishment align with Pawar’s instructions for a frugal transformation.
