New Delhi: Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered a structural safety audit of all buildings operating as paying guest accommodations in major PG hubs across the capital within a week, following the deadly building collapse at Satya Niketan.
The directive came during a high level review meeting attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood and senior officials from the Delhi government, MCD, police, NDRF, DDA and Delhi University.
Officials have been instructed to conduct targeted inspections of PG properties, particularly buildings suspected of violating height, floor and other construction norms. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has also been directed to take strict action against ongoing illegal construction and prevent further violations.
The meeting also focused on improving emergency preparedness. The L-G ordered the immediate activation of a DDMA control room to coordinate rescue operations, medical assistance, verified information and communication with families during disasters.
The government is also considering tighter regulations for PG accommodations and coaching centres based on recommendations being prepared by the Justice Guha Committee. A comprehensive database of students staying in PGs is also planned.
To address Delhi’s shortage of student accommodation, authorities discussed using vacant or underutilised MCD and DDA properties, expanding university hostels and allowing higher floor area ratios for new hostel projects where safety standards are met.
Sandhu cautioned against indiscriminate sealing of buildings, warning that such action could leave students without accommodation. He called for focused inspections and enforcement against properties that clearly violate safety norms.
The review followed Sunday’s collapse of a five storey boys’ PG near Delhi University’s South Campus, which killed seven people and injured at least six. Three members of the property-owning family have been arrested, while investigators are examining the roles of PG operators and the labour contractor involved in repair work.
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