Former ministers who have been staying in government bungalows on Chennai’s Greenways Road have told Public Works Department (PWD) officials that the premises cannot be handed over immediately.
The Greenways Road complex has about 60 bungalows meant for ministers, including space for offices, residences, security personnel and staff quarters. Over the past five years, more than 23 ministers used these bungalows and added household facilities at their own expense, according to officials.
After the recent Assembly election defeat that ended the DMK government, the PWD began planning maintenance work such as painting and toilet repairs to prepare the bungalows for the incoming ministers. Orders to vacate were conveyed to assistants of former ministers through an executive engineer.
However, more than five former ministers reportedly called the executive engineer directly on Wednesday and said they would be able to vacate only after two months. A PWD official said granting up to two months is the usual practice, and the demand for immediate vacating triggered anger, with families citing the need to move expensive belongings safely.
