View source for 7, Lok Kalyan Marg

{{short description|Official Residence of the Prime Minister of India}}
{{redirect|7 RCR|the Indian television series|7 RCR (TV series)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox Historic building
| image            = PM meets His Majesty the King of Bhutan, Mr. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck on his arrival, at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, in New Delhi on November 06, 2023.jpg
| image_caption    = [[PM Modi]] welcomes [[Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck]], [[Druk Gyalpo|King of Bhutan]] to 7, Lok Kalyan Marg (2023).
| map_type         = India New Delhi
| map_caption      = Location of 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in New Delhi
| coordinates      = {{coord|28|36|N|77|12|E|region:IN-DL|display=inline,title}}
| location         = [[New Delhi]]
| location_country = {{flag|India}}
| size             = {{cvt|12|acre|order=flip}}
| current_tenants  = [[Narendra Modi]]<br/>{{small|([[Prime Minister of India]])}}
| start_date       = 1980
}}
'''7, Lok Kalyan Marg (7LKM)''', formerly '''7, Race Course Road''', is the [[official residence]] and principal workplace of the [[Prime Minister of India]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://sify.com/news/pm-chairing-meeting-on-cwg-news-national-kiosEdgbdhd.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811162041/http://www.sify.com/news/pm-chairing-meeting-on-cwg-news-national-kiosEdgbdhd.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=PM chairing meeting on CWG |website=[[Sify]] |date=14 August 2010 |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Matherani recalled; Cong core group meets |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2005/20051203/main2.htm |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date= 3 December 2005 |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> Situated on ''[[Lok Kalyan Marg]]'', [[New Delhi]], the official name of the Prime Minister's residence complex is '''''Panchavati'''''. It is spread over {{convert|12|acre|order=flip}} of land, comprising five [[bungalow]]s in [[Lutyens' Delhi]], built in the 1980s, which are the Prime Minister's office, residency zone and security establishment, including one occupied by [[Special Protection Group]] (SPG) and another being a guest house. However, even though there are 5 bungalows, they are collectively called 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. It does not house the Prime Minister's Office but has a conference room for informal meetings.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-to-shift-to-7-RCR-on-Monday-night/articleshow/35610636.cms|title=Modi to shift to 7 RCR on Monday night|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref>
The entire [[Lok Kalyan Marg]], which lies right across the road, is closed to the public. [[Rajiv Gandhi]] was the first Prime Minister to reside at the erstwhile 7 Race Course Road, in 1984. It does not house the [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office (PMO)]], which is located in the [[South Block]] of the [[Secretariat Building, New Delhi|Secretariat Building]], on [[Raisina Hill]] nearby in [[New Delhi]], where the [[Cabinet Secretariat of India|Cabinet Secretariat]] functions. The nearest [[Delhi Metro]] station is [[Lok Kalyan Marg metro station]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Metro stations near 7 Race Course Road closed |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/news/29931886_1_metro-stations-udyog-bhawan-7race-course-road |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120523191112/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-26/news/29931886_1_metro-stations-udyog-bhawan-7race-course-road |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 May 2012 |publisher=[[The Economic Times|Economic Times]] |date=26 August 2011 |access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref> When a new Prime Minister is nominated his/her original house is for the time being given a security detail and the new office holder is then advised to move in the 7, LKM at the earliest possible date.<ref name=red/>
The residence was earlier called ''7, Race Course Road'', which changed to ''7, Lok Kalyan Marg'', following the renaming of the road on which the house is situated, in September 2016.<ref name="ndtv.com">{{Cite news|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/race-course-road-where-prime-minister-lives-renamed-lok-kalyan-marg-1464691|title=Race Course Road Is History. PM's New Address Is 7, Lok Kalyan Marg|work=NDTV.com|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref>
==History==
Earlier, the Prime Ministers of India lived in their own house or house allotted to them through Parliament, allotment by virtue of being an [[Member of Parliament|MP]]. [[Jawaharlal Nehru]] took up residence in [[Teen Murti Bhavan]], which used to be the residence of the [[Commander-in-Chief, India|Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[British Indian Army]] in [[British India]]; it was formerly called the ''Flagstaff House''. After Nehru's death in 1964, the building was converted to the [[Nehru Memorial Museum and Library]] in 1984.
The next Prime Minister of India [[Lal Bahadur Shastri]] chose [[10 Janpath]] as his official residence, where he stayed 1964–1966. It was later allotted to the [[Congress (I)]] party, though a part of it became biographical museum, Lal Bhadur Shastri Memorial and Museum at 1, [[10, Janpath|Motilal Nehru Place]] (formerly 10, Janpath), adjacent to the complex.<ref>{{cite news |title=Can the Congress be saved by its new leaders?|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/jan/10jana.htm |work=[[Rediff.com]] |date=January 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lest we FORGET... |url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/02/stories/2004100200850200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050122083034/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2004/10/02/stories/2004100200850200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2005 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=2 October 2004 }}</ref> The current resident of 10, Janpath is [[List of presidents of the Indian National Congress|Former INC President]], [[Sonia Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The world according to Sonia|author=Saeed Naqvi|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/37045/ |publisher=[[Indian Express]] |date=12 December 2003}}</ref>
After the [[assassination of Indira Gandhi]] at her [[Safdarjung Road|1, Safdarjung Road]] residence garden while going towards neighbouring [[Akbar Road|1, Akbar Road]] office for an interview on 31 October 1984,<ref>{{cite web |title=25 years after Indira Gandhi's assassination|url=http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-and-indira-25-years-after-a-pms-assassination/104183-37.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101105243/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/india-and-indira-25-years-after-a-pms-assassination/104183-37.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 November 2009 |date=30 October 2009|publisher=[[CNN-IBN]]  }}</ref> it was converted into the Indira Gandhi Memorial and Museum. Former [[Chief Justice of India]] [[Sudhi Ranjan Das]] had previously lived at this address before Indira Gandhi.{{citation needed|date=June 2012}}
[[Rajiv Gandhi]], her son and successor as prime minister, along with his wife [[Sonia Gandhi]] and children [[Rahul Gandhi]] and [[Priyanka Gandhi]], became the first occupant of erstwhile 7, Race Course Road, in 1984.
When [[V. P. Singh]] became the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Urban Affairs designated 7, Race Course Road premises occupied by [[Rajiv Gandhi]] as the permanent residence and office of the Prime Minister of India to ensure that all successive prime ministers were allotted the same house on assuming office. A government notification on 30 May 1990, officially designated these bungalows as the official residence of Indian Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Maheshwari|first1=Shriram|title=The Indian administrative year book, Book 1990|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|location=India|isbn=8170223911|page=209|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t_AGPViN8zkC&q=race+course|access-date=27 September 2014|year=1992}}</ref>
In the 1990s [[I. K. Gujral]] and some of his predecessors, used 7, Race Course Road as [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office]] (PMO).<ref>{{cite web | title = Race Course Road: PMO Shifts to PMR | work = India Today | url = http://www.india-today.com/itoday/08091997/prabhu.html | date = 8 September 1997 | access-date = 17 September 2014 | author = Prabhu Chawla | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924034338/http://www.india-today.com/itoday/08091997/prabhu.html | archive-date = 24 September 2015 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }}</ref>
The 14th and current [[Prime Minister of India]], [[Narendra Modi]], chose 5, Race Course Road as his residence as the erstwhile 7, Race Course Road was being refurbished at that time, after his predecessor [[Manmohan Singh]] had vacated it. The erstwhile 7, Race Course Road was chosen as Modi's office.<ref>{{cite news|title=Narendra Modi moves to 5, not 7, Race Course Road  |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-moves-to-5-not-7-race-course-road/1/364527.html|access-date=27 September 2014|work=India Today|agency=PTI|date=30 May 2014}}</ref>
==Construction==
The bungalows of the 7 LKM were originally designed by [[Robert Tor Russell]], who was part of British architect [[Edwin Lutyens]]’ team, when he was designing New Delhi in the 1920s and 1930s.<ref name="india.com-facts">{{cite web|last1=Mishra|first1=Rashmi|title=7 Race Course Road: 7 things to know about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new residence|url=http://www.india.com/top-n/7-race-course-road-7-things-to-know-about-prime-minister-narendra-modis-new-residence-67276/|website=India.com|access-date=27 September 2014|date=30 May 2014}}</ref>
==The Bungalows==
The {{convert|12|acre|adj=on|order=flip}} Prime Minister's residence was built in the 1980s. It does not have his office inside the house, but has a conference room for informal meetings. The Prime Minister's residence and office and security spread across five [[bungalow]]s: Bungalow 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. This includes 5, Lok Kalyan Marg, the Private Residential Zone for the Prime Minister, though he primarily operates from 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.<ref name=red>{{cite news |title=Take your time to shift, PM to Vajpayee |url=http://in.rediff.com/news/2004/may/26onkar.htm|publisher=[[Rediff.com]] News |date=26 May 2004 }}</ref><ref name=mid>{{cite news |title=Sonia to move to 7~ Race Course Road|url=http://www.mid-day.com/election04/2004/may/83421.htm |publisher=[[MiD DAY]] |date=16 May 2004 }}</ref><ref name=tele>{{cite news |title=3G package for ballot battle...For PM, it's a fine balancing act |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090217/jsp/nation/story_10547112.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218193229/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090217/jsp/nation/story_10547112.jsp |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 February 2009 |publisher=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)]]|date=17 February 2009 }}</ref>
Bungalow 1 is a helipad for the service of Prime Minister which is being used as so since September 2003.<ref name="2003-IT" /> It is under the control of the [[Special Protection Group]]. The entire road with bungalows numbering 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 came under Prime Minister's residential complex.<ref name=tri>{{cite news |title=PM's security being beefed up |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031208/main5.htm |work= [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]]|date=8 December 2003 }}</ref>
Bungalow 3 which was earlier the residence of [[Manmohan Singh|Dr. Manmohan Singh]] has now been converted into a guesthouse for Prime Minister's guests.
Bungalow 9 is occupied by the [[Special Protection Group]] (SPG) that guards the Prime Minister. A {{convert|1.5|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} tunnel connects the Indian prime minister's residence to the [[Safdarjung Airport]], where high-importance helicopters land. Constructed beyond Kemal Atatürk Marg, Golf Course and [[Tomb of Safdarjung|Safdarjung Tomb]] and then an overground drive to surface at the helicopter hangar at the airport, work on the tunnel began in 2010 and was completed by July 2014 and Modi was the first Prime Minister to use it.<ref>{{cite web | title = Prime Minister Narendra Modi's house gets a secret tunnel in 7 RCR | url = https://www.deccanchronicle.com/140530/nation-current-affairs/article/prime-minister-narendra-modi-house-gets-secret-tunnel-7-rcr |work=Deccan Chronicle|author=Nishtha Grover |date= 30 May 2014| access-date = 17 September 2014 }}</ref>
Current prime minister [[Narendra Modi]] uses 5, LKM as his residence which has also been used as so by [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]] and [[Rajiv Gandhi]].<ref name="BS-House">{{cite news|last1=Sandhu|first1=Veenu|title=A house for Mr Modi|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/specials/a-house-for-mr-modi-114051601728_1.html|access-date=27 September 2014|work=Business Standard|date=17 May 2014}}</ref>
===Panchvati===
In 2001, during the tenure of Vajpayee, a state-of-the-art auditorium was constructed at the cost of {{INRConvert|26.58|m}} and was named as ''Panchvati'', it has been named after the spot where [[Rama|Ram]] and [[Sita]] had built their hut during their exile. It is equipped for video conferencing and simultaneous translations<ref name="2003-IT">{{cite web|last1=Sahgal|first1=Priya|title=Home office|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/atal-bihari-vajpayee-chooses-to-work-from-home-7-race-course-road-refurbished-as-new-pmo/1/205011.html|publisher=India Today|access-date=27 September 2014|date=1 December 2003}}</ref> This can be modelled into 2–3 conference rooms and can also act as a banquet for a gather of 200–340 people. This can be used as a cabinet meeting room and can also be arranged to form a theatre.<ref name=KT>{{cite web|title=The Power Center – PM House – 7RCR : Elite Residence|date=13 September 2014|url=http://www.expressions-kt.in/2014/09/the-power-center-pm-house-7rcr-elite.html|publisher=Tarun's blog|access-date=27 September 2014}}</ref>
===Security===
While the government-run [[Special Protection Group]] (SPG) is the primary agency in charge of the security, it is aided by the [[Central Reserve Police Force]] (CRPF), [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) and the [[Delhi Police]] to provide three-rung security for the estate. There is only one entrance to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, which is guarded by the SPG. Only those visitors whose names have been given to SPG by the prime minister's personal secretaries are allowed in. The rule applies to everybody, including the [[National Security Advisor (India)|national security adviser]], top bureaucrats, relatives and guests (barring close family) and visitors are expected to carry an identity card. No outside vehicle is allowed to go beyond the checkpoint and even high-profile visitors including cabinet ministers are required to park their official vehicles by the checkpoint. Special SPG vehicles are used to carry the guests from the checkpoint to the residential office of the Prime Minister. The only exception to this rule is for the SPG protectors themselves who are allowed to take the vehicle carrying them into the complex.<ref name="BS-House" /><ref name=KT />
The whole area is a no-fly zone and airspace usage around the area is highly restricted and monitored.<ref name="BS-House" /> Over the years, its security has gradually been increased. A bulletproof glass-tube passage was built in 2003, connecting Bungalow 3, at the Prime Minister's residence, to ''Panchvati'' or 7 LKM, where the Prime Minister meets people and delegations and holds official meetings.<ref name=red/> A concrete wall was added on the periphery, separating the house from the main road, to render any truck bomb or a car bomb attack ineffective. However, the residence is surrounded by various high rise building and public structures, including Samrat Hotel, [[Ashok Hotel|Ashoka Hotel]], and state guesthouses on one side, to the [[Delhi Gymkhana]] Club (DCG) and Delhi Race Course which lies on the other. Accordingly, plans for a helipad within the complex were mooted for several years. By 2004, the [[Intelligence Bureau (India)|Intelligence Bureau]] (IB) took over most of the rooms of Samrat Hotel overlooking the residence and watchtowers were erected inside [[Delhi Gymkhana]]. The Delhi Gymkhana can be accessed only via [[Safdarjung Road]].<ref name=red/> The residence has a power substation, and doctors and nurses from the [[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]] are on duty round the clock. There are several ambulances on standby, one of which always accompanies the prime minister's motorcade.<ref name="BS-House" />  The civic officials ensure that there are no traffic bottlenecks on Kemal Atatürk Marg that runs outside the bungalows.<ref name="2003-IT" />
In 2004, the road was refurbished at a cost of {{INRConvert|70|m}} to make it the permanent residence of the Indian Prime Minister.<ref name=mid/><ref name="BS-House" />
7 LKM also has massive, manicured lawns and has abundant [[gulmohar]], [[Bombax ceiba|semal]] and [[Terminalia arjuna|arjuna]] trees which homes several birds, including [[Peafowl|peacocks]].<ref name="BS-House" />
===Staff===
Besides the secretarial staff, it has a support staff of about 200 gardeners, servants, and electricians. They are employed after a background check.<ref name="BS-House" />
==Workplace==
The workplace at 7 LKM has two small rooms on either side from the entrance for each of the two personal secretaries. Then there is a small corridor with a visitor's room to the right. Further ahead is a chamber to meet guests. Adjacent to that is the living space for larger meetings, behind which is the dining room where breakfast and lunch meetings are hosted. A corridor from 7 LKM leads to ''Panchvati'' which can be segmented into two or three conference rooms or a large banquet hall.<ref name="BS-House" />
On the walls are artworks loaned by the [[National Gallery of Modern Art]] (NGMA) which are often changed in consultation with the prime minister's office. The gifts received by the Prime Minister are either displayed at 7 LKM or are sent to the ''toshakhana'' (treasure house).<ref name="BS-House" />
==See also==
* [[List of official residences of India]]
* [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]]
* [[Prime Minister's Office (India)|Prime Minister's Office, India]]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://m.jagranjosh.com/general-knowledge/amp/amazing-facts-about-prime-ministers-residence-1471857128-1 Facts and history] at ''jagranjosh.com''
{{Prime Ministers of India}}
[[Category:Houses completed in 1984]]
[[Category:Official residences in India]]
[[Category:Government buildings in Delhi]]
[[Category:Prime ministerial residences]]
[[Category:20th-century architecture in India]]