Shelar Gets Posh Bungalow That All Babus, Netas Wanted

An iconic bungalow, a British-era beauty that sits atop the Malabar Hill reservoir, has been allotted to minister for culture and information technology, Ashish Shelar, who believed the more modest accommodation he had been assigned was not suited to him.

- Yogesh Naik

MUMBAI: Shelar's request for the plush bungalow in one of Mumbai's most upscale addresses was granted on Tuesday.

Shelar, who was assigned the 'B2' at Nariman Point, will move into the sprawling 'hydraulic engineers bungalow' at Malabar Hill. He swaps places with retired IAS officer, Praveen Pardeshi, who is CEO of the state government's think tank, MITRA (Maharashtra Institution for Transformation).

The hydraulic engineer's bungalow has always been one of the most sought-after bungalows by ministers and bureaucrats. The property, right next to the famous Hanging Gardens, is enveloped in greenery and offers amazing views of the Queens Necklace on Marine Drive.

The bungalow is located atop the Malabar Hill reservoir, which is in urgent need of repairs.

An earlier municipal commissioner had said the entire structure, built in colonial times, would come crashing down if it was not repaired. Standing in the way of this are the bungalow's high-profile occupants.