Indian government agency
The Directorate of Estates is an attached department under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of India. It was established in 1944. It administers and manages the estates of the Government of India.[1] Its main region of the National Capital Territory of New Delhi. It also has extended services in its 8 Regional offices in Chandigarh, Chennai, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur and Shimla.[2]
Estates
The department owns and controls many venues along with the Central Public Works Department. It also administers estates in the adjoining areas of served regions.[3]
It mainly consists of the following types of estates-
Government Residential Accommodations
Providing Government Residential Accommodation to the officers/officials of eligible offices of Government of India is the core service of this department.[4][5]
Government Office Space Accommodation
The Directorate of Estates also administers the allotment of Office Accommodation at Delhi and other locations. The office spaces are allotted to eligible central government offices, based on availability of space. Office space is allotted to offices considering parameters like the employee strength of offices, etc.[6]
Government Commercial Space Accommodation
Directorate of Estates also manages the allotment and ownership rights of INA Market as well as the newly constructed markets in New Moti Bagh and Kidwai Nagar (East)
Venues for conclaves and ceremonies
It controls and operates mainly two venues in New Delhi -
Holiday Homes and Touring Officers Hostels
Directorate of Estates administers the booking of Holiday Homes and Touring Officers’ Hostels (TOH) of Government of India which are maintained by Central Public Works Department.[9][10]
Allotment system
The Directorate currently uses an automated system for allotment. All processes regarding bookings and payments are done online. Allotments under the GPRA are based on a ‘Unified Waiting List’ for a particular type of accommodation.[11] In this waiting list, all applicants, including those waiting for initial allotment, as well as change of accommodation, are clubbed together. The allotments are made, based on their date of priority and seniority. Each applicant gets two allotments in each type of accommodation, i.e., initial and change. The prices depend on the basic pay of employees of different ranks.[12]
References