Are officers’ quarters at Gandhi Nagar, a residence for politicians?
Jaipur: The Gandhi Nagar area, made as the government residential hub for senior IAS officers in Jaipur, is losing its original identity. In an area of about two kilometres, there are 50 A-category government single-storey bungalows. Initially, these bungalows were allotted only to senior IAS officers, with one or two exceptions. However, over the last two decades, this system has deteriorated steadily, and now only a few IAS officers have bungalows remaining here.
A total of 18 bungalows are allotted to IAS officers here. Whereas 19 bungalows are occupied by IPS, 7 bungalows by Ministers, and 3 bungalows by judicial services officers. Interestingly, as soon as a bungalow of an IAS officer becomes vacant, GAD immediately allots it to someone else without thinking.
There is no provision for the first floor in these bungalows, but in the previous Congress government, a Minister got rooms constructed on the first floor from PWD by spending several lakhs of rupees. He started living on the top floor, leaving the ground floor for guests and the office. A senior officer couple from the neighbourhood had complained to GAD about their privacy being violated in this way. Still, the Minister came down only after being evicted from the government.
Similarly, an officer of the judicial services, who held a constitutional post also altered the appearance of the bungalow by spending several lakhs of rupees after which, this government bungalow became a luxurious mansion.
A Minister of the previous government had got the outer colour of the bungalow painted blue and still the GAD did not object. One by one, more than half a dozen ministers have started living in Gandhi Nagar. Crowds gather at their place throughout the day and till late night. This is taking away the serenity and peace of the area. Due to the nonavailability of bungalows in Gandhi Nagar, senior officers have to stay in government bungalows built in far-flung areas like OTS, Chambal Guest House, and Vidyadhar Nagar.
