The rules are clear for ordinary citizens: no new construction in Shimla’s heritage zone. Except for minor renovations to existing buildings—that too with the state cabinet’s permission—no new building can come up here. But the Governor is no ordinary man and so, Raj Bhawan is getting ready to construct two new buildings, including a palatial guest house for visiting dignitaries and Raj Bhawan’s guests.

The Raj Bhawan, housed in a 175-year old Tudor-style heritage building called ‘Barnes Court’, is located in Shimla’s Chhota Shimla area—where the historic Simla Agreement was signed in 1972. Any kind of construction, within or outside the Raj Bhawan complex and its close vicinity, is totally banned. But Governor V.S. Kokje, whose five-year term ends in a week, is exploring the possibilities of laying a foundation stone for the buildings by the weekend.

Of the two proposed buildings, one is the Raj Bhawan’s administrative block to be built at a cost of nearly Rs 85 lakh and the second is a VVIP guesthouse exclusively for Raj Bhawan’s guests that will cost more than Rs 90 lakh. The administrative block will be built at the site of the old building at the Raj Bhawan’s entrance while the guesthouse will be a few meters away from the main Barnes’ Court building.

Under the town and country planning (TCP) norms, no new construction can be taken up here as entire Raj Bhawan complex falls in the heritage zone. Only the cabinet can allow such constructions that too after invoking its “extra-ordinary” powers for relaxation of the ban. The TCP has already sent its comments to the government, admitted an official.

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