Ashish Sood Launches Delhi PG Safety Overhaul After LG Approval
- Ashish Sood chairs the inaugural meeting of a 20-member high-powered committee on student housing.
- The committee aims to finalize new regulations for PGs and hostels within 15 days.
- Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu approved the formation of the panel to address housing shortages.
- A new digital portal will be launched to monitor and register all student accommodations.
- Delhi University hostels are slated for a comprehensive redesign to improve living standards.
Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood convened the first meeting of the high-powered committee tasked with reforming student accommodation and safety protocols on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. The meeting, held at the Delhi Secretariat, signals a shift in the government's approach to the persistent housing crisis facing the capital's vast student population. According to official data, the lack of standardized oversight has contributed to a significant rise in safety-related incidents within private student accommodations over the past few years. Officials said the primary objective of the session was to define the operational framework for the 20-member panel. The committee was formed following the direct intervention of Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who prioritized the need for safe and affordable housing for students across Delhi. The minister emphasized that the current regulatory vacuum has left thousands of students vulnerable to exorbitant rents and unsafe living conditions. Sources confirmed that the panel will prioritize the creation of a standardized set of rules for Paying Guest (PG) facilities and private hostels. This move comes after months of mounting pressure from student unions and parent groups regarding the lack of basic amenities and fire safety compliance in hubs like Mukherjee Nagar and Old Rajinder Nagar. The minister noted that the government is no longer willing to tolerate the exploitation of students by unscrupulous property owners who bypass safety norms for profit. By bringing these establishments under a formal regulatory umbrella, the administration intends to ensure that every student has access to a secure living environment. The meeting also focused on the timeline for implementing these changes, with a clear directive to expedite the drafting of new guidelines. Officials noted that the committee's work will be reviewed on a weekly basis to ensure that the momentum is not lost in bureaucratic delays.
Taranjit Singh Sandhu's 20-Member Panel Targets PG Safety
The 20-member committee, personally approved by Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, represents a broad cross-section of stakeholders. The panel includes representatives from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, the Delhi Development Authority, and fire safety experts. The integration of these diverse agencies is designed to streamline the approval process for new hostels and the inspection of existing ones. Experts said that the involvement of the LG's office indicates the urgency of the situation. The committee is tasked with identifying the exact gap between the demand for student housing and the current supply, which has led to inflated rents. • The committee consists of 20 members drawn from various government departments and educational bodies. • The panel is mandated to submit a draft of new regulatory norms within a 15-day window. • Inspections will be carried out across all major student hubs to ensure compliance with fire safety and sanitation standards. • A dedicated grievance redressal mechanism will be established for students to report safety violations. The committee is not just looking at new constructions but is also auditing existing facilities. Officials said that buildings found to be in violation of the National Building Code will face immediate scrutiny. This includes checking for adequate exits, ventilation, and the structural integrity of basements often used as study halls. The committee also discussed the financial burden on middle-class families. With monthly rents in popular areas often exceeding ₹20,000 (roughly $240 USD), many students are forced to compromise on basic safety. The panel is exploring potential rent regulation frameworks that could prevent price gouging during peak admission seasons. The LG's directive ensures that the committee has the authority to bypass traditional red tape, allowing for faster decision-making. This is a departure from previous years where student housing issues were often relegated to secondary status in urban planning meetings.
Digital Portals to Track Delhi Student Accommodations by Month-End
One of the most concrete outcomes of Tuesday's meeting is the decision to launch a centralized digital portal within 15 days. This platform will serve as a registry for all PG accommodations and private hostels operating within the National Capital Territory. Officials said that every property owner will be required to register their facility, provide details on safety certifications, and declare the number of residents. The portal is intended to create a transparent database that allows students and parents to verify the safety status of a property before signing a rental agreement. Currently, many students rely on word-of-mouth or unverified online listings, which often lead to disputes over security deposits and hidden charges. The government plans to make registration mandatory for all commercial student housing. Properties that fail to register will be subject to fines and potential sealing. This digital push is expected to provide the administration with real-time data on the housing shortage, enabling better policy interventions in the future. Sources confirmed that the portal will also feature a review system where students can report issues ranging from waterlogging to lack of electricity or poor security. The data collected will be analyzed by the high-powered committee to identify areas where the city needs to incentivize the construction of new, affordable hostels. The technical team responsible for the portal is already working on the architecture, ensuring it is user-friendly for both students and the administrative staff. The minister has insisted that the portal must be live and functional before the start of the next academic cycle to prevent the usual scramble for housing that occurs in the summer months.
Redesigning Delhi University Hostels for Modern Safety Needs
Beyond private accommodations, the committee is also turning its attention to the public sector, specifically the aging infrastructure of Delhi University (DU) hostels. Ashish Sood stated that the current state of many university-run hostels is inadequate for the modern student. The panel has proposed a comprehensive redesign project to upgrade these facilities. The redesign will focus on three key areas: structural safety, digital connectivity, and modern sanitation. Officials said that many DU hostels have not seen significant renovations in decades, leading to crumbling walls and outdated electrical systems. The committee is reviewing budget allocations to ensure that these upgrades are funded without passing the cost on to the students. The goal is to provide a safe, affordable alternative to the expensive private PG market. By improving the quality of university-run housing, the government hopes to reduce the reliance on unregulated private accommodations. Experts said that this is a long-overdue move. The pressure on DU hostels has been immense, with thousands of students vying for a limited number of seats each year. A successful redesign could increase the intake capacity of these hostels, providing relief to those who currently have no choice but to pay exorbitant rents in the private sector. The redesign plans will also incorporate green building standards, focusing on energy efficiency and waste management. This aligns with the broader goal of making Delhi's educational institutions more sustainable. The committee is expected to release a detailed blueprint of the hostel upgrades by the end of next month.
The Economic Burden of Unregulated PGs on Students and Families
The economic reality for a student in Delhi is grim. For a typical aspirant moving to the city for competitive exam preparation, the cost of living is a major hurdle. Families often sacrifice savings to pay rent, only to find that the accommodation is unsafe. Witnesses said that the lack of regulation has created a 'take it or leave it' market, where owners hold all the power. The average monthly rent for a shared room in areas like Patel Nagar or Old Rajinder Nagar ranges from ₹12,000 to ₹22,000 (roughly $145 to $265 USD). Industry reports indicate that rental costs in these high-demand student hubs have surged significantly, often outpacing the average inflation rate for housing in the capital. Despite these high costs, many PGs lack basic fire extinguishers, proper fire exits, or even reliable power backups. The committee's intervention is seen as a necessary correction to this market failure. By standardizing the rules, the government hopes to create a more competitive market where property owners are forced to compete on safety and quality rather than just location. This could stabilize prices and prevent the arbitrary hikes that occur every year. The committee is also looking into the feasibility of a 'standard lease agreement' that protects the rights of students. This would include clauses on the return of security deposits, which is a common point of contention. Currently, many students lose their deposits due to vague and unfair contract terms. The government's focus on the economic impact is a welcome change for student activists. They argue that safety is not just about fire exits; it is about the financial security that allows a student to focus on their studies without the constant stress of being evicted or exploited.
Future Roadmap for Affordable and Secure Student Housing
As the committee moves into its next phase, the focus will shift from planning to execution. The 15-day deadline for the portal and the draft regulations is an ambitious target, but officials said they are confident in meeting it. The next meeting is scheduled for early October, where the committee will review the progress of the portal development and the initial audit reports from the ground. The long-term vision is to transform Delhi into a city where students can live with dignity and safety. This requires sustained effort from the government, the university administration, and the private sector. The committee's work will likely set the tone for student housing policy for the next decade. The government is also considering incentive programs for developers who build student-specific housing that meets government safety standards. This could involve tax breaks or faster permit processing, making it more attractive for investors to enter the student housing market. The success of this initiative will ultimately be measured by the reduction in accidents and the stabilization of rental prices. For the thousands of students currently navigating the murky waters of the Delhi PG market, this high-powered committee represents a glimmer of hope. As the meeting concluded on Tuesday, the mood among the committee members was one of determined action. The minister reiterated that the safety of students is a non-negotiable priority for the current administration. With the LG's backing and a clear, time-bound plan, the path forward seems more structured than it has been in years.