The recent collapse of a Paying Guest (PG) accommodation building in Satya Niketan, South Delhi, on September 6, resulted in the tragic loss of at least seven lives, including those of students. This incident has drawn attention to the pressing issue of insufficient hostel facilities for students affiliated with Delhi University (DU).
In response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the auditing of such residential buildings, the Delhi High Court highlighted the critical shortage of hostels available to students on Monday.
Satya Niketan has become a popular area for private student housing over the years, largely due to its proximity to DU colleges. However, the convenience of commuting is often counterbalanced by poor living conditions, including substandard construction, lack of natural light in rooms, inadequate food and water quality, and overcrowded living spaces.
Founded under the Delhi University Act of 1922, DU has evolved into one of India’s leading central universities. According to Section 33 of the act, all students (excluding those in correspondence courses) must reside in a college or a hall recognized by the university. A “hall” indicates any student accommodation that the university provides or acknowledges.
Despite its significant growth over the past century, with the Annual Report for 2024-25 indicating an increase from three colleges and 750 students in North Campus to 90 colleges and over 600,000 enrolled students today, the university still struggles to meet housing demands. The report indicates that around 250,000 students are enrolled in conventional programs, with more than half coming from outside Delhi.
Not all of the 90 colleges offer on-campus accommodation, and the university has not provided comprehensive data on the total number of hostel beds available. Reports from 2015 indicated that, out of an estimated 180,000 students, only about 9,000 hostel beds were accessible for both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Many colleges in South Campus, established in 1973 to address growing enrollment, still lack adequate hostel facilities or have only recently begun construction. For instance, Maitreyi College, which opened a new hostel in 2022, accommodates only 103 students, while the overall student population exceeds 4,000. In general, college-hostel capacities meet less than 10% of total student needs.
The urgent need for increased hostel capacity has been voiced repeatedly over the years. Haritma Chopra, the principal of Maitreyi College, noted that the number of outstation students has risen as access to technology has improved and university admissions shifted online about a decade ago.
VS Negi, President of the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), emphasized that while the association has previously raised this issue, colleges often cite their own limitations. “Little has been done to ensure hostel facilities for all students. Many students travel from various parts of India to the capital… It is crucial to provide adequate on-campus housing to prevent them from seeking unsafe living arrangements,” Negi remarked.
Sooraj Elamon, Secretary of the Students Federation of India (SFI), affiliated with the Communist Party of India (Marxist), criticized administrative responses that claim a lack of space. He countered that DU has ample vacant land, but no initiatives are being taken, partly due to the substantial revenue generated from PG accommodations.
On the administrative side, officials acknowledge that, despite expansions, reliance on external housing will persist due to the large number of outstation students. Bijayalaxmi Nanda, principal of Miranda House in North Campus, explained that limitations arise from space issues and specific regulations that govern construction. “Each college has a defined capacity based on its land area, and our heritage building, established in 1948, imposes certain restrictions,” she stated.
Some progress has been made with new hostel blocks constructed around 2012, and plans for a 120-bed facility are under consideration, with potential funding from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. “Many colleges are pursuing similar projects, but achieving a fully residential campus in a public university is not feasible given our land constraints,” Nanda added.
Administrative challenges also include lengthy approval processes from local authorities such as the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and meeting criteria related to environmental considerations and the preservation of historical buildings.
Funding remains a crucial factor. Chopra mentioned that one key funding source is the Higher Education Financing Agency (HEFA), a collaboration between the Ministry of Education and Canara Bank aimed at financing capital assets in prestigious educational institutions across India. “In some colleges, alumni contribute to renovations or maintenance, but all processes must be diligently followed,” she explained.
“When constructing a building, various compliance issues must be addressed, including precise documentation and consultations with multiple agencies. The involvement of an architect is necessary, and funding requirements amount to significant figures,” she added. For example, her college, located in the diplomatic area of Chanakyapuri, faces restrictions on the number of floors permitted for the hostel, which limits its capacity.
