CM KCR's home-office 'Pragathi Bhavan' construction cost around Rs 50 Cr, painting alone Rs 75L: RTI

Hyderabad: The construction cost of 'Pragathi Bhavan'- the official residence and principal working place of Telangana Chief Minister K ChandraShekar Rao, amounts to Rs 49,84,14,145 ending financial year 2022, revealed an RTI filed by Hyderabad-based activist Robin Zacheus.

Pragathi Bhavan houses, the Chief Minister's residence, office, Janahitha (meeting halls) and the old CM residence cum camp office. The foundation stone of Pragathi Bhavan was laid in 2016-17, by demolishing IAS quarters, recreation center and peon quarters. And over the years, the cost which includes repairs, maintenance, salaries of service staff has amounted to Rs 49. 84 Crore, RTI reply said.

A break-up of the expense over seven years revealed that, the original cost of the building is Rs 45.91 Crore, respectively. And, the construction of the said building was completed in financial year 2016-17 . A year-after-year expense statement unfolded, that the Chief Minister's residence, which falls under the Road and Building department, needed multiple repairs and new construction, respectively.

2017-2018:

In 2017-18 financial year, a sum of Rs 23.64 lakhs was spent on

-Emergency maintenance works at the Pragathi Bhavan- Rs 44,277

-Permanent stage for CM Camp office- Rs 89,109

-Shed for security guards -Rs 7.85 lakh

-Payment of qualified staff which includes plumber and carpenters amounted to Rs 14.46 lakh

2018-19:

The year saw an increase in expenses. A sum of Rs 57.57 lakh was spent on the following:

-Emergency maintenance : Rs 99,000

-Construction of a new compound wall on the north side of the residence-Rs 34.51 lakh

-Payment of qualified staff which includes plumber and carpenters amounted to Rs 22.06 lakh

It is pertinent to note that, the payment of qualified staff which includes plumber and carpenters saw a significant jump in this year when compared to 2016-17.

2019-2020:

In the following year, a whopping Rs 2.05 Cr was spent on maintenance, repairs and more:

-Improvements to roads and median in front of the old residence- Rs 1.16 Crore

-Aluminum door and partitions- Rs 88,631

-Additional works-Rs 86,733

-Stage extension-Rs 40,467

-Payment of qualified staff which includes plumber and carpenters amounted to-Rs 35.03 lakh

-Providing Toilet and changing room to security guards- Rs 9.39 lakh

-Renovation of toilet at first floor- Rs 3.14 lakh

-Extension of barricading grill at the main entrance of Pragathi Bhavan premises as part of the security measures-Rs 7.15 lakh

-Patrolling paths at the eastern corridor of the Pragathi Bhavan-Rs 26 lakh

-Maintenances of ceiling and toilet repair- Rs 5.14 lakh

Once again, It is pertinent to note that the payment of qualified staff which includes plumber and carpenters saw a significant jump.

2020-21:

The expenses in this year saw a drop when compared to the previous. From repairs to painting and maintenance cost, the expenses amounted to Rs 53.90 lakh.

2021-2022-

The expense in this year revolved around Rs 52 lakh, which includes emergency repairs, civil works around patrolling paths, maintenance, and barricade grills. However, the highest expense, that is Rs 26.57 lakh was for a 'Modular Kitchen'. Followed by a security bar for the badminton court, i.e Rs 6.31 lakh.

Interestingly, for the year 2022- 23, an expense of Rs 75 lakh was spent on painting (coloring) of Pragathi Bhavan, Office and Janahitha Halls.

From the beginning of construction up to 5th of September 2022- the day the RTI reply was issued, the total cost of construction of Chief Minister KCR's residence and office amounts to Rs 49.84 crore, the RTI concluded.