Post-retirement residence for Patil finalised

A post-retirement residence for President Pratibha Patil has been finalised in Pune by the government, after she had to give up an accommodation following a controversy.

Officials said that the bungalow which the Urban Development Ministry has finalised is in the Pashan Road area of Pune.

Secretary Urban Development Sudhir Krishna said, "There is a proposal for accommodation in Pune, which belongs to the Maharashtra government about which we have written to them and are awaiting their response.

"We have identified a plot on Pashan Road in Pune in consultation with the local and state authorities. We have now made a request to the state government and a formal offer letter is expected," he said.

Krishna also said that since the Central Public Works Department did not have any suitable residence, which met the desired criteria in Pune, the ministry had to look at alternative accommodation.

He said that once the house is handed over to the Directorate of Estates which comes under the Ministry of Urban Development, it will be furnished by the CPWD.

The Urban Development Secretary said that while many Presidents had chosen to take up post-retirement accommodation in New Delhi itself, others had requested for accommodation in their home states.

"Former President Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy had been provided residence in his home state of Andhra Pradesh with help from the state government," Krishna said.

Patil may move temporarily to a government bungalow in Delhi next month till the time the Pune house is ready.

She had earlier wanted construction of a house on a defence land in Pune which got mired in controversy following which she changed her mind.