DU to add 5.5K seats to existing hostel capacity of 7,210 over five years
Delhi University plans to add 5,500 hostel seats over the next five years to address severe housing shortages for its students. This expansion follows public outcry and protests regarding student safety after a recent building collapse in a nearby student housing area.
Why it matters
The initiative addresses a critical infrastructure crisis in India's higher education system that directly impacts student safety and welfare.
Delhi University is set to increase its hostel capacity by over 5,500 seats to 12,754 over the next five years, officials said on Thursday.
At present, there are 7,210 hostel seats for around 2.5 lakh university students. The announcement comes amid growing worries among outstation students regarding safe and affordable student housing following the Satya Niketan building collapse, which housed a PG facility. Several student groups, including the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), have held candlelight marches and protests since the September 6 tragedy over the absence of hostel accommodation.
According to official data, the university has 3,422 hostel seats while the capacity across affiliated colleges is 3,788.
Earlier this week, DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh asked college principals to review residential facilities for students and expedite work on under-construction hostels.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in