NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday announced that the government will construct hostels for 10,000 students, days after a building collapse in the national capital’s Satya Niketan claimed seven lives.Gupta said that the decision was made to address the shortage of affordable and safe accommodation for students coming to Delhi for higher education.“It is absolutely true that if we want to develop Delhi into a bigger education hub, it is essential to meet the need for hostels along with colleges and universities. Lakhs of students come to Delhi to study, but while they get admission, they do not get hostel accommodation,” Gupta said.“The Delhi government has decided to construct hostels for 10,000 students, ensuring their safety, security and access to affordable housing. These hostels will cater to both male and female students. Any student enrolled in a university or college in Delhi will be able to avail of these facilities,” she added.Gupta said the government had held meetings with the relevant departments, identified suitable locations and initiated the process of drafting a policy for the hostels.“We have carefully considered the students’ needs and the amenities required within these hostels. I assure you that we will build hostels where parents from across the country can leave their children with complete peace of mind, and where students – freed from worries about food or accommodation – can focus entirely on pursuing their dreams,” Gupta said.
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This comes as Delhi government stepped up its action against unsafe and unauthorised buildings following the Satya Niketan building collapse. The government launched a crackdown on illegally constructed buildings after the incident and took action against several such structures.The MCD has also intensified enforcement against dangerous buildings, unauthorised constructions and violations of the Master Plan of Delhi and building bye-laws following the collapse.The civic body said it was continuing its survey of PG accommodation buildings across Delhi to prepare a database and assess compliance with applicable building norms and other statutory requirements.
