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A proposal of INR 3.4 crore to renovate the Mumbai mayor’s official residence in Byculla has been placed before the civic standing committee, raising concerns over high spending. The heritage bungalow, located inside Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden, is structurally sound but is set for extensive interior upgrades. RTI activist Anil Galgali has questioned the need for such costs, highlighting recent repairs and low maintenance spending in past years. The proposal includes new rooms, modern fittings and design upgrades, bringing focus back on transparency and prioritisation of civic funds.
A proposal worth around INR 3.4 crore for renovating the Mumbai mayor’s official residence in Byculla has been submitted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s standing committee for approval. The move has come under scrutiny after concerns were raised about the scale of spending on a property that is already in usable condition. Advertisement
The residence is located within the Veermata Jijabai Bhosale Botanical Garden premises and is a single-storey heritage bungalow built using teak wood. It falls under protected heritage regulations, which means structural changes are limited, but internal modifications are permitted with approvals. Civic officials have planned an extensive upgrade focused mainly on interiors and facilities rather than structural rebuilding.
As per details accessed through a Right to Information query, activist Anil Galgali questioned the proposal, stating that the house is habitable and does not justify such a high expenditure. He also pointed out that repair work had already been carried out by the civic body earlier in January 2026, raising concerns about repeated spending on the same property within a short period.
The proposed renovation includes redesigning the interiors, upgrading all bathrooms with new fittings, and adding additional bedrooms and toilets. Plans also involve converting an existing auditorium space into a meeting room and improving internal layouts to make the residence more functional. The kitchen is set to be modernised, while features such as Venetian blinds, decorative chandeliers and specialised lighting systems have also been included in the proposal. Italian marble flooring is planned for parts of the ground floor, while ensuring that the heritage character of the bungalow is maintained.
In addition to interior upgrades, the proposal also looks at improving privacy and operational use of the space. This includes shifting office-related functions and conference areas outside the main residential structure and setting up a temporary arrangement within the premises. These changes are aimed at separating official and residential usage more clearly.
Financial data shared through the RTI response shows that maintenance costs for the residence have remained relatively low in recent years. Expenses were around INR 85.87 lakh in 2018–19, which reduced significantly to INR 5.88 lakh in 2019–20, and further dropped to about INR 2.93 lakh and INR 2.92 lakh in the following years. Against this backdrop, the proposed INR 3.4 crore outlay marks a sharp increase, which has become a key point of concern.
The mayor’s residence has seen renovation proposals in the past as well, including earlier plans that focused on upgrades such as flooring and lighting. However, the current proposal is significantly higher in value and wider in scope, leading to fresh discussions around cost justification and planning approach within the civic body.
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