The Delhi government will launch an online portal to digitally map student paying guest (PG) accommodations, recording details such as room capacity, basic facilities and other housing information after the Satya Niketan incident exposed concerns about the safety and regulation of student residences.
The decision was taken at the second meeting of the High-Powered Committee on Student Accommodation and Safety, chaired by Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood. Representatives of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police and Delhi’s universities attended the meeting, according to a report by Jagran.
The proposed portal is intended to show where students are living, the type of PG accommodation available and the facilities provided at each property. Delhi University and the MCD are expected to conduct an initial test of the portal within two to four days, after which the government plans to begin a registration campaign for students and PG operators.
The committee has also ordered immediate inspections of 100 identified PG accommodations. Joint teams from the MCD and DDA will inspect the properties over the next three days to check whether they comply with safety standards and applicable legal provisions. The inspections are expected to help identify accommodations operating in violation of regulations.
The move follows the incident in Satya Niketan, where a five-storey PG building collapsed. The incident prompted the government to consider a more systematic approach to student housing, including a digital record of properties and clearer enforcement responsibilities among civic and planning agencies.
A sub-committee has been formed to review provisions of the Delhi Master Plan and the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act that apply to PG operations. It will include representatives of the DDA, Delhi government, MCD and the vice-chancellor of Delhi University. The committee will examine the possibility of legally compliant and safe PG operations within a five-to-six-kilometre radius of major educational centres, as well as in group housing societies and areas managed by resident welfare associations.
The proposed regulatory framework includes mandatory CCTV cameras at PG entrances, exits and common areas. The committee has suggested retaining recordings for 40 to 45 days. At the same time, the government has said that safeguards must be built in to protect students’ privacy, particularly in private spaces where surveillance would be inappropriate.
The plan places student housing at the intersection of building safety, municipal regulation and the fast-growing demand for accommodation near educational institutions. A digital portal could give authorities a clearer inventory of PG properties, but its effectiveness will depend on the completeness of registrations and on whether agencies act on violations identified through inspections.
The committee is scheduled to meet again after Dussehra. Its next meeting will consider the sub-committee’s report and discuss finalising the proposed regulatory framework for PGs and other student accommodations.
