Delhi CM announces 10,000-bed hostel plan after Satya Niketan PG collapse incident

Days after the Satya Niketan PG building collapse, the Delhi government has decided to construct hostels with capacity for 10,000 male and female students to ensure safety and access to affordable housing. Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta said that any student coming to the country’s capital for higher education will be able to avail of these facilities.

CM added that the decision comes after addressing the shortage of affordable and safe accommodation for students coming to Delhi.

CM Gupta held a meeting with the relevant departments capable of constructing hostels, identified suitable locations, and initiated the drafting of a policy. CM added that students' needs and amenities will be considered within these hostels.

Also read 12 DU colleges, just 1 with hostels: Why students are forced into PGs like the one collapsed in Satya Niketan

While announcing the update on social media through a video, CM Gupta added: “I assure you that we will construct hostels where parents can leave their children with complete peace of mind, and students will be free of worries about food or accommodation, allowing them to focus entirely on pursuing their dreams.”

Hostel for Delhi University students

Notably, after the PG building tragedy, the University of Delhi made an announcement to double its hostel capacity across the university and its affiliated colleges, with the number of seats expected to reach 12,754.

Before the decision, only DU’s Sri Venkateswara College in the South Campus area offered hostel facilities for both male and female students, but with limited capacity. Nearly six people, including students, died in the PG building collapse in Delhi.