The spotlight turned back on the Prime Minister's official residence after a drone sighting was alleged over it in the early hours of Monday. We revisit what little is known of the nation's most famous, yet unknown address.
Security forces were alerted Monday morning after reports that a drone was spotted over the Prime Minister's residence at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg in Delhi. While Delhi Police reported that so far nothing suspicious has been found after extensive searches, the spotlight has turned back to India's most heavily guarded and closed off address.
7, Lok Kalyan Marg (formerly known as 7 Race Course Road) is the official residence and principal workplace of the Indian Prime Minister. The police were contacted by the Special Protection Group (SPG), the agency which has the sole responsibility of protecting the Prime Minister of India and his/her family and maintains the layers of security around Lok Kalyan Marg.
While images of the iconic door at Downing Street or the lawns of the White House readily come to mind, little is known by most Indians about 7, Lok Kalyan Marg and it is hard to recall to mind what our most important address looks like.
Officially named as Panchavati now, it became the official residence of the nation's prime ministers after Rajiv Gandhi chose to move into two bungalows on the formerly known Race Course Road in the 1980s. The bungalows on this road were constructed by Robert Tor Russell, part of the team led by the famous architect of Central Delhi, Edwin Lutyen.
7, Race Course Road became the well-known name as Bungalow 7 became the official venue where prime ministers would meet guests, chair mini-cabinet meetings and carry out other official duties while the official residence is at the bungalow on 5, Race Course.
Over time, the whole street was blocked off by the SPG, an area stretching across 5 bungalows which have now been amalgamated into one official residence over the years as different prime ministers have stayed there, a process of renovation and upgradation that started with Narasimha Rao. Whenever a new Prime Minister is appointed, they are advised to move into 7, Lok Kalyan Marg at the earliest possible date.
Current resident, Prime Minister Modi stays in the private residential zone at 5, Lok Kalyan Marg while he still primarily operates out of 7, LKM as is tradition.
In September 2016, the famous Race Course Road was changed to its current name as 7, Lok Kalyan Marg. Of its five bungalows, Bungalow 9 is occupied specially by the SPG which is also the primary agency in charge of the security for the area. However, they are aided by the Central Reserve Police Force and the Delhi Police to provide a three-rung layer of security around the area.
The nation's most important residence has heavily-guarded measures all around it. 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, to date, still has only one entrance protected by the SPG. Visitors are checked and processed, and allowed entry into the area only after their names have been shared with the SPG by the Prime Minister's Secretaries. Special SPG vehicles are used to ferry guests from the entry checkpoint to the residences inside, no outside vehicles being allowed. Even the highest profile visitors, such as Cabinet Ministers are required to park their vehicles at the outside checkpoint and use the SPG ferries from there on.
In addition to being a no-fly zone as per the Drone Rules, 2021, the airspace around 7, LKM is heavily restricted and monitored. The security measures are even more extensive with a concrete wall surrounding its periphery rendering any car bombs or vehicular attacks ineffective. It also boasts of a bulletproof glass-tube passage which connects the Prime Minister's residence to the workplace at Bungalow 7, constructed in 2003.
The area also has a 1.5 kilometer tunnel that connects it to Safdarjung Airport from where most VIP travel is conducted, and high-importance helicopters land.
Media footage of the area is rare, leaving most of its existence up to the public's imagination. However, visitor accounts boast of massive, manicured lawns, populated by gulmohar and arjuna trees, which are home to many birds, including peacocks. Pictures of Prime Minister Modi feeding the resident peacocks have gone viral on social media in the past.
7, Lok Kalyan Marg is also part of the latest Central Vista redevelopment plans. As is standard for the elite address, not many details of the planned renovations exist in the public domain, however plans to add new buildings and state of the art receptions and offices have been slated to further extend its grandeur. Yet, it will continue to remain a mystery to the public.