7 Race Course Road

7, Race Course Road is the official residence of the Prime Minister of India. It is the address of the Prime Minister's house. The name of PM House is Panchavati. It is often referred to as "7, RCR". Unlike the White House, it does not house the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), which is located at the South Block in New Delhi.

History

Originally the PMs lived in their own houses or houses allotted to them through Parliament allotment by virtue of being an MP in India.After the assassination of Indira Gandhi at her 1,Safdarjung Road garden by her 2 body guards that bungalow was converted into the "Indira Gandhi Memorial Museum". The security concern now needed the new PM to move in a big and secure place. It was hence decided to have a Permanent PM house which any person becoming Prime Minister of India will occupy. The 7, Race Course Road (7 RCR) was prepared and selected specially for the Prime Minister residence. When a new PM 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 7RCR at the earliest.

Jawaharlal Nehru resided in "Teen murti Bhawan" which used to be the residence of the Chief of Services in the British times. The next PM of India Lal Bahadur Shastri chose 10 Janpath as the PM house. It was later converted as the Congress(I) President's house. Indira Gandhi was allotted "1, Safdarjung Road" which was best suited for PM needs in terms of space.

Rajiv Gandhi, along with his family, became the first occupant of Panchavti.Former PM V P Singh made it into a permanent residence of the Prime Minister.

As the house was built in the 80s much of its interiors are simple and elegant. "7 RCR" has a secretarial staff which looks after PM's daily needs. The Indian Prime Minister does not have his office inside the 7 RCR, but it does have a conference room for informal meetings. This is not the cabinet room, which is located in PMO, the PM meets with heads of political parties there. "3, Race Course Road" is the Private Residential Zone for the PM though he operates from "7, Race Course Road."

Controversy

In 2003, there were reports of some estate agent selling the PM residence, 7 Race Course Road, to a business man from England.

On June 28, 2006, 3 youngsters tried to get into 7 Race Course Road in a black Hyundai Sonata breaching the residence's security cordon.

References

Excerpted from: The Tribune, Chandigarh: http://www.tribuneindia.com/2003/20031208/main5.htm]