The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee will inaugurate the renovated 'Rashtrapati Ashiana’ of Dehradun on September 27, 2016. He will also stay in the building for the entire duration of his visit to Uttarakhand from September 27 to 29, 2016.
The Rashtrapati Ashiana, built originally as bungalow of the Commandant of the President's Bodyguard is being revived by the President after long years of disuse. Shri KR Narayanan was the last President who stayed here in March 1998.
The President’s Bodyguard first established its summer camp in Dehradun in 1838 for summering of horses and remounts. The Commandant’s Bungalow was built in 1920 and then, renovated as well as re-designated ‘Rashtrapati Ashiana’ during 1975-76 to provide a suitable summer retreat for the then President of India, Shri Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed as alternative to Shimla.
The Ashiana has been now renovated once again as per advice of the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) which conducted a site survey in May, 2015 and suggested methods of retrofitting including provision of earthquake resistant features. Based on the advice of CBRI, retrofitting was done by providing horizontal & vertical seismic bands. Wire mesh has been fixed on the surface of masonry before the replastering.
Landscaping of Ashiana has been also done with new lawns, planting of hedges, ornamental plants comprising flowering trees and shrubs to enhance aesthetics as well the greenery.The old irrigation system using canals has also been revived.
The Ashiana situated on Rajpur Road of Dehradun comprises of the main building, Annexe, Swimming pool, Upper Stables & Lines and Lower Stables and Lines with associated roads and pathways. The Ashiana is surrounded by a fruit orchard of litchi and mango trees.
This release issued 1445 hrs.