Delhi University approves Rs 5,889 crore hostel project to accommodate 21,895 students: DU Executive Council

The University of Delhi (DU) has approved a Rs 5,889 crore plan to expand student accommodation, with residential facilities planned for 21,895 students. The proposal was approved at the university's 1284th Executive Council (EC) meeting, chaired by Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh on October 13.

According to the university's announcement, the plan includes the construction of new hostels at an estimated cost of Rs 4,027 crore to accommodate 15,758 students. Another Rs 1,862 crore has been allocated for reconstructing two existing hostels, which will provide accommodation for 6,137 students.

DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the building designs had been prepared keeping the needs of the 21st century in mind. He added that the university was planning for the next 100 years, considering that the circumstances under which its older hostels were built were different from those expected in the future.

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The expansion plan covers the university's Dhaka Complex, Surajmal Vihar campus and Najafgarh campus. The EC has also approved the reconstruction of Jubilee Hall and the PG Men's Hostel. Singh clarified that the names of the existing hostels would remain unchanged after reconstruction.

DU to build hostels across three campuses

The university plans to construct additional multi-storey hostel buildings at the Dhaka Complex, Surajmal Vihar campus and Najafgarh campus.

According to the announcement, hostels for male and female students will also be built at Veer Savarkar College in Roshanpura, Najafgarh. Separate hostels for men and women are planned at the university's West Campus in Dwarka, in the Najafgarh area, and at the East Campus in Surajmal Vihar, Karkardooma.

The university plans to make maximum use of the permitted Floor Area Ratio (FAR) on each campus because of the limited availability of vacant land for construction.

The proposed hostel buildings will include facilities such as dining halls, shops, common rooms, reading rooms and residences for wardens. These amenities are intended to meet students' residential and daily needs within the hostel complexes.

Jubilee Hall, PG Men's hostel to be reconstructed

The Executive Council has approved the reconstruction of Jubilee Hall and the PG Men's Hostel as part of the residential expansion plan.

Responding to a query about the reconstruction, Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh clarified that the names of the existing hostels would not be changed.

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The university has also urged its colleges to prepare proposals for building new hostels on their own premises and submit them to the funding agency.

The approved plan is aimed at expanding accommodation capacity across the university and its campuses. The announcement did not specify a construction start date or completion timeline for the proposed hostel projects.