Before the first session of the new Lok Sabha starts early next month, Directorate of Estates is working in full swing to provide housing facility to newly- elected MPs and has already alloted accommodation to 223 lawmakers.
"Till now transit accommodation have been given to the new MPs in various state bhawans and Ashoka hotel and we are ready to provide accommodation to more," said a senior Directorate of Estates official.
While 180 rooms have been earmarked for newly-elected MPs in ITDC-run hotels, about 240 rooms are made available in state bhawans and guest houses by the Directorate of Estates of Urban Development Ministry.
"We have provided transit accommodation to 83 MPs in Ashoka hotel till date and the arrival of newly elected Members of Parliament is continuing everyday," said the official.
On the need for more hotel rooms, the official said at present MPs are being given accommodation at Ashoka only. If need arises then rooms at Janpath and Samrat can also be made available.
He said many MPs are also preferring to stay at state bhawans than hotels and so state-run guest houses are also being readied for them.
The new MPs will be provided permanent accommodation after the constitution of the Lok Sabha Housing Committee.
"There are about 330 newly elected MPs in the 16th Lok Sabha," according to a Lok Sabha secretariat official.
The former MPs and Union ministers of 15th Lok Sabha, who could not get re-elected, are entitled for retention of their existing government accommodation for a period of one month only from the date of dissolution of the 15th Lok Sabha.
According to Lok Sabha Secretariat, about 350 MPs have been issued new I-cards till date. "Everyday about 60/70 MPs are coming for their new I-cards and other requirements," a Lok Sabha Secretariat official said.
