Patna: More than Rs 5 crore has been spent over the past decade on renovation and repair work in VIP rooms across Bihar government departments and constitutional institutions, according to documents obtained through the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
Records from the Building Construction Department show that between 2015 and 2025, a total of 437 repair and renovation work orders were issued across more than 45 departments and constitutional bodies.
The documents indicate repeated spending on refurbishing rooms occupied by ministers and senior officials, with several rooms reportedly undergoing renovation every one to two years.
Questions Raised Over Repeated Renovations
The records have triggered questions over the frequency of repairs and the use of public funds for interior and cosmetic upgrades.
According to the documents:
- Many rooms were renovated repeatedly within short intervals
- Several work orders reflected identical round-figure billing amounts
- Toilets and interiors were allegedly repaired multiple times within the same year in some departments
Critics have questioned why repairs worth lakhs of rupees were being undertaken within 12 to 24 months despite the expected lifespan of such infrastructure.
Experts note that:
- Quality painting generally lasts 5–7 years
- False ceilings, flooring and woodwork typically last between 8–15 years
Officials Cite Transfers and Preferences
Department officials cited administrative changes and instructions from senior authorities as a key reason behind repeated renovation work.
According to the explanations provided:
- Rooms are often redesigned after ministers or officers change
- New occupants request modifications according to their preferences
- Engineers execute work orders based on instructions from higher authorities
Officials also indicated that the department acts on directives rather than independently deciding on renovation schedules.
Concerns Over Financial Discipline
The documents have intensified concerns regarding financial discipline within government departments.
Experts have questioned the technical justification for repeated large expenditures without:
- Structural damage
- Technical inspection
- Certification of necessity
They described such repeated expenditure as a potential misuse of public funds.
Toilets Allegedly Repaired Multiple Times
According to the RTI documents, annual spending ranging from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh was incurred on tiles and fittings in private toilets used by officials.
In several departments, the same toilets were allegedly shown as being repaired twice within a single year.
The documents have raised suspicions that:
- The same work may have been billed multiple times
- Repeated expenditure may have benefited preferred contractors
‘Magic Number’ of Rs 2.5 Lakh Raises Questions
One of the most striking revelations in the records relates to repeated round-figure billing patterns.
According to the documents, bills amounting to exactly Rs 2.5 lakh were issued simultaneously for ministers’ rooms across several technical departments, including:
- Road Construction
- Rural Works
- Public Health Engineering Department (PHED)
- Transport
- Information Technology
A retired engineer questioned how renovation costs for multiple rooms across different departments could match precisely “without even a penny more or less”.
He suggested the pattern pointed towards paperwork manipulation and “managed” estimates.
RTI Documents Spark Debate on Public Spending
The revelations have renewed scrutiny over expenditure on VIP facilities within Bihar’s administrative system, particularly at a time when concerns over public infrastructure, service delivery and fiscal accountability remain central political issues in the state.
The RTI records provide one of the most detailed accounts yet of renovation spending patterns within Bihar’s government departments over the past decade.
