- Delhi weighs turning former CM’s residence into luxury venue.
- City may hire a hospitality company to operate the property.
- Property would host government events, private functions.
THE DELHI GOVERNMENT is considering converting former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's official residence into a luxury hospitality venue. The property would host government functions and private events when not in official use.
The Public Works Department is preparing a plan for the property's operation, maintenance and commercial use, according to ANI. The residence at 6 Flagstaff Road in Delhi's Civil Lines was Kejriwal's official residence.
Kejriwal served as chief minister from 2015 to 2024 after a brief first term in 2013 to 2014. He moved into the bungalow in 2015, and renovations began in 2020 that later became the subject of political controversy. The BJP dubbed the residence "Sheesh Mahal," or "Palace of Mirrors," to criticize the renovation costs. His Aam Aadmi Party lost the 2025 Delhi Assembly election to the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"The objective behind the proposal is to reduce the property's maintenance costs and generate revenue from government assets," said Pravesh Verma, Public Works Department minister.
Officials are considering hiring a hospitality company to operate the property or manage it under Delhi's Bed & Breakfast policy. Government meetings and conferences would take priority, with private events allowed when the property is not needed for official use.
PWD officials said the government will retain full control of the property and obtain all necessary approvals before implementing the plan.
The proposal also includes completing the unfinished camp office next to the residence. The building would host government meetings and conferences and be available for private events when not in use. According to the Delhi Legislative Assembly, about $3 million has already been spent on the camp office, and the total project cost is estimated at about $7 million.
The proposal follows earlier plans to convert the property into a state guest house, a cultural center or transfer it to the federal government, ANI reported. Officials said the plan would keep the property under government ownership while allowing commercial operations to offset costs.
A recent Delhi Economic Survey 2025-26 found that Delhi recorded 3.22 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2024, or 38.9 percent of India's total. Despite leading all Indian cities, the capital converts relatively few of those arrivals into longer stays.
