A retirement home for APJ Kalam

The outgoing president, who will soon be moving out of Rashtrapati Bhavan, will in all probability be calling 31, Aurangzeb Road his next home, writes Aruna Sharma.

While the hunt for the next President goes on, a search of a different kind is also on: a house hunt for outgoing President APJ Abdul Kalam.

Kalam, who will soon be moving out of Rashtrapati Bhavan, will in all probability be calling 31, Aurangzeb Road his next home. It is learnt that the Urban Development Ministry has identified this property for the purpose and has offered it to Kalam. A ministry official said no confirmation has been received as to whether the house is acceptable to the President.

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The Type VIII bungalow, which is not in very good condition, was last occupied by former Chief Justice of India Ranganath Mishra.

Ministry sources said it used to be a defence pool bungalow but was later converted into an MTNL guest house. At one point of time, it was also allotted to the chief of BSNL. According to sources, Justice Mishra surrendered the house to the Directorate of Estates on Tuesday.