The Delhi Development Authority has completed a safety audit of all 736 parks under its control, identifying 190 as high risk and requiring immediate intervention, according to a report by Millennium Post – Delhi. The audit was conducted within a week following directions from Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu and has triggered measures covering lighting, surveillance, gates, boundary repairs and security deployment.
Of the parks assessed, 258 have been classified as medium risk and 288 as low risk. The DDA has identified additional lighting requirements in 520 parks, of which 231 are being taken up for immediate provision. Work has already been completed in 106 parks on an immediate basis, based on the audit conducted last week.
The audit also found gaps in access control and visibility. The DDA has marked 163 parks for conversion of unlockable gates into lockable gates. Safety information boards have been installed in 115 parks, while another 484 signages are under implementation.
Surveillance remains limited across the audited network. CCTV coverage was available in only 16 parks, while 323 additional parks have been identified for new CCTV installations. Boundary-related deficiencies were recorded in 399 parks, including missing grills and repair requirements. The DDA said work had been addressed in 233 of these parks.
Areas around toilets and abandoned structures have also been identified for corrective action. Night patrolling has started in 245 major parks, and 134 parks have been assessed as requiring gunmen. Bike patrolling has begun in all high-risk parks, according to the report.
The DDA held a meeting with concerned security agencies at the office of the Principal Commissioner on September 28 to address the issues identified through the audit. The authority has activated biometric attendance for security guards in 602 parks, with implementation under way in the remaining parks.
The DDA has also shared contact details of local police and beat officers with field staff, while police personnel have received corresponding contact information. The authority said contact-detail distribution had reached all parks, alongside sensitisation on incident reporting and police coordination.
Standardised security protocols are being prepared for patrolling, guard performance, supervisor accountability, attendance, incident reporting and coordination with the police. Security-related tender provisions are also being updated. At the local level, structured meetings with Resident Welfare Associations are being conducted by Director and Deputy Director-level officials to identify park-specific safety concerns and assign corrective action.
For continued monitoring, the DDA has established a Central Master Tracker and Monitoring Dashboard, with senior officers conducting weekly inspections. The Principal Commissioner visited Yamuna Biodiversity Park on September 30, followed by a visit to Kamla Nehru Ridge Park on October 1. The next phase will involve completing the identified lighting, CCTV, signage, boundary and security interventions across the park network.