New Delhi: The Union Government spent Rs 92.35 crore on the repair, renovation, furnishing and maintenance of Lutyens Delhi bungalows allotted to Union ministers during 2025-26, marking the highest annual expenditure on such works since 2014-15.
The expenditure has increased more than threefold over the past decade. In 2014-15, the government had spent Rs 27.47 crore on similar works.
The latest figures, shared in response to an RTI, highlight the rising cost of maintaining the sprawling, decades-old government residences in the heart of the national capital.
The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) is responsible for executing repair, renovation and maintenance works at these residences.
Rs 547.68 Crore Spent Between 2014-15 and 2025-26
According to the RTI data, the government spent a cumulative Rs 547.68 crore on repairs, renovation and upgradation of Union ministers’ residences between 2014-15 and 2025-26.
The annual expenditure has risen substantially over the period.
From 2014 to 2019, the average annual spending stood at around Rs 26.78 crore. This increased to nearly Rs 50 crore per year between 2019 and 2024.
The expenditure then rose further to Rs 71.98 crore in 2024-25, before reaching the record Rs 92.35 crore in 2025-26.
The figures indicate a sharp escalation in the government’s maintenance bill for ministerial residences, with the latest annual expenditure substantially higher than the levels recorded a decade ago.
Average Cost Works Out to Around Rs 1.2 Crore Per Minister
With the Union Council of Ministers comprising approximately 70 to 72 Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State, the Rs 92.35-crore expenditure in 2025-26 translates into an average of roughly Rs 1.2 crore per minister.
However, this is only an indicative average, as the actual expenditure varies depending on the condition, size and maintenance requirements of individual residences.
The RTI response relates specifically to residences allotted to Union ministers. The CPWD did not provide expenditure data for the residences of MPs who are not ministers, nor did it furnish figures relating to the offices of Union ministers.
Why Is the Maintenance Bill Rising?
The high expenditure is partly attributed to the age and extensive maintenance requirements of the Lutyens bungalow zone.
Several of these government residences are old structures requiring regular repairs and periodic renovation. According to CPWD officials, maintenance problems can include seepage, termite infestation, ageing electrical systems, plumbing issues and general structural wear and tear.
The cost of maintaining these properties has also been affected by inflation and rising prices of construction materials, labour and maintenance services.
The bungalows are generally located on large plots with extensive lawns and other outdoor infrastructure, further adding to their upkeep requirements.
Lutyens Bungalow Zone Dates Back More Than a Century
The Lutyens bungalow zone forms one of the most distinctive parts of New Delhi’s architectural landscape.
The area was developed between 1912 and 1930, when New Delhi was being established as the imperial capital of British India. After Independence, many of these residences were adapted for use by senior government functionaries.
Apart from Union ministers, the bungalow zone and other government residential areas in Lutyens Delhi accommodate Members of Parliament, senior judges, top military officers and other senior public officials.
The heritage character and age of several properties also make their upkeep a continuous requirement.
Expenditure Has More Than Tripled Since 2014-15
The rise from Rs 27.47 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 92.35 crore in 2025-26 represents an increase of more than three times over the period.
The spending pattern shows a particularly sharp increase in recent years:
- 2014-15: Rs 27.47 crore
- 2014-19 average: Rs 26.78 crore annually
- 2019-24 average: Nearly Rs 50 crore annually
- 2024-25: Rs 71.98 crore
- 2025-26: Rs 92.35 crore
The latest figure therefore represents a substantial jump over even the Rs 71.98 crore spent in the previous financial year.
CPWD Handles Repairs and Renovation
The CPWD is the government agency responsible for carrying out repair, renovation and maintenance work at these residences.
The department faces the challenge of maintaining properties that combine large structures, expansive grounds and ageing infrastructure. Routine maintenance can range from plumbing and electrical repairs to structural work, waterproofing, pest control and renovation.
While the government expenditure has increased significantly, officials have attributed the rising costs to the ageing nature of the properties, regular wear and tear and inflation.
The RTI figures, however, do not provide a complete picture of expenditure on all government residences in the Lutyens zone, as the data supplied did not include residences occupied by non-minister MPs or offices of Union ministers.
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