Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed officials to fix dark spots, broken footpaths, inadequate lighting and gaps in CCTV coverage at Delhi University’s North Campus after a surprise inspection on Wednesday evening, with particular attention to the safety of women students.
During the inspection outside the Arts Faculty, Gupta spoke to women students about safety, night-time travel, transportation, colleges, hostels and paying guest accommodation. She asked students to report difficulties they faced while travelling at night and told them that genuine concerns would be addressed.
The chief minister identified several poorly lit stretches while walking through the campus and sought details from officials. She directed authorities to map all dark spots, install additional lights where required and prune tree branches that obstruct illumination. The instructions place responsibility on civic and university authorities to address both infrastructure deficiencies and maintenance issues affecting visibility after dark.
Gupta also expressed displeasure over broken and uneven footpaths and ordered officials to inspect the entire stretch and repair damaged portions. She said pathways should be accessible to students with disabilities, linking the safety review with a broader requirement for usable and inclusive pedestrian infrastructure.
The inspection included a review of CCTV arrangements. Officials were asked to provide details of the number of cameras installed, how many were functional and which areas required additional surveillance. Gupta directed the installation of cameras wherever necessary and instructed authorities to ensure that existing systems remained operational.
Police arrangements were also discussed during the visit. The chief minister enquired about the availability of PCR vehicles and the deployment of women police personnel at night. Students told her that women police personnel were present and that PCR vehicles reached the area when required. Gupta directed the police and university administration to strengthen coordination.
The inspection covered sanitation and green-area maintenance as well. Gupta took note of garbage and poorly maintained green spaces and ordered immediate cleaning. These conditions add to the range of routine public-realm services that influence how students experience the campus beyond academic buildings, including walking routes, open areas and access points.
Students also raised concerns about paying guest facilities. Gupta said the Delhi Government was preparing a PG policy that would prescribe necessary rules and standards. She also said work was under way to improve hostel facilities and construct new hostels. The government did not provide further details in the report on the policy’s timeline, proposed standards or the number and location of planned hostel facilities.
