Udaipur House in a shambles

Delhi & Rajasthan governments are fighting the possession of the building, leading to its neglect

In ruins:The former residence of the Maharaja of Udaipur is now surrounded by an unkempt park, and has turned into a safe haven for drug addicts at night.Photo: Shiv Kumar Pushpakar

: With the Rajasthan and Delhi governments fighting the possession of Udaipur House in Civil Lines here, the former residence of the Maharaja of Udaipur is in a state of neglect. Spread over close to 12,000 square metres, the beautiful white building on Rajpur Road has become dilapidated, is surrounded by an unkempt park, and has turned into a safe haven for drug addicts at night.

Last week, the Rajasthan government sent yet another reminder to the Delhi government asking it to hand over the possession of the property to them. But the Aam Aadmi Party government offered them land in other parts of the city. “We have offered them alternative land as Udaipur House is located in Civil Lines, near Delhi’s Ministers’ residences and the Delhi Assembly, and it is important for us,” said Sarvagya Srivastava, principal secretary, Public Works Department. The Rajasthan government, however, turned down the offer.

On March 18, the governments had got together to discuss the issue. Consequently, the Delhi government, in a letter on April 1, had proposed sites in Bijwasan and Kapashera. “We are willing to give them land that is on a par with the market price of Udaipur House,” said Mr Srivastava.

Officials admit that due to the neglect and the ongoing tussle, there are complaints of encroachment on the site. Some shanties on the premises were removed in November last year.

The Udaipur House was once used by the Delhi government’s labour department. But after the Rajasthan government went to court, it was vacated. “There are many properties in Delhi on prime locations that belong to the Rajasthan government. Udaipur House is one of them, and even after a court order in favour of our government, the Delhi government is not handing over the possession to us,” said an official with the Rajasthan government.

“The government has plans to turn the Udaipur House on the lines of the Gujarat Bhawan, which can be used for students and people of Rajasthan to stay,” added the official.

In 2010, former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot had met his then counterpart in Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, for the possession of Udaipur House, but both the Congress chief ministers couldn’t reach a decision. In 2014, the Rajasthan government had successfully got Bikaner House at India Gate vacated.

The Rajasthan government has rejected the offer of land in another part of the city