Delhi LG orders student safety overhaul

Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has directed a sweeping overhaul of safety measures around Delhi's colleges and universities. The orders follow student protests over rising crime against women and aim to fix last-mile connectivity, dark spots, and police response.

Sandhu chaired a review meeting on Monday with vice-chancellors from universities administered by the Delhi government and senior officials from police, transport, and civic bodies. Representatives from numerous Delhi University women's colleges, including Lady Shri Ram College, Miranda House, and Gargi College, also attended. They raised a list of common hazards: e-rickshaw solicitation, blocked college entrances, unlit footpaths, encroached pathways, dark spots, unsafe parks, public toilets, and a lack of dedicated pink booths for women.

The LG directed immediate infrastructure repairs. The Public Works Department and Municipal Corporation of Delhi must fix non-functional street lights, install high mast lights, and eliminate all dark spots. CCTV cameras are to be installed along college approach roads, at bus stops, and in public areas. Unauthorized encroachments, vendors, and stationary buses obstructing pathways near colleges are to be removed. The MCD must also address open urinals, inappropriate graffiti, overgrown vegetation, and relocate or remove unauthorized men's washrooms and waste collection points that attract ragpickers. Parks near colleges linked to substance abuse are to be secured.

Police and patrol measures

Police presence will be enhanced through regular foot, motorcycle, and PCR van patrols. Vulnerable stretches, isolated lanes, parks, and poorly lit areas will be identified for increased surveillance. There will be a visible deployment of women police personnel in these zones. A dedicated nodal police officer will be nominated for each college to coordinate with authorities and act promptly on safety complaints, including eve-teasing. Plainclothes surveillance personnel will also be deployed, and an emergency response mechanism established for quicker intervention. The LG had previously directed similar improvements in a meeting on September 30.

Transport and connectivity improvements

Authorities have been mandated to improve last-mile connectivity. This includes increasing the frequency of U-Special and Ladies Special buses, particularly between 8-11 am and 5-8 pm. Better bus services to and from metro stations are required. Tighter regulation of autos and battery-operated rickshaws is ordered, along with the creation of regulated pick-up points. Evening shuttle services and Metro Feeder buses are part of the enhanced transport plan. Greater awareness about the Metro Saarthi and One Delhi apps and the Durga Scheme was also called for.

Institutional safety protocols

Universities themselves have been given directives. They must establish 'Action Bodies' comprising deans, faculty, students, and hostel wardens. Regular student feedback is stressed, with institutions urged to encourage prompt reporting of incidents, including through photos and videos. All houses and localities used as paying guest accommodations must be registered and verified in consultation with Delhi Police. Delhi University and the Higher Education Department were instructed to examine government accommodation for hostels and to establish an Inter-College Women Safety Committee for North and South campuses.

The meeting followed the LG's recent direct engagement with students at colleges like Daulat Ram and Indraprastha, and a surprise inspection of Bonta Park to assess lighting and security. It also came after the alleged gang rape of a teenager in southeast Delhi, which intensified safety concerns. The LG directed the preparation of a dedicated student safety application with emergency alerts, GPS location sharing, and real-time reporting, which would require uninterrupted mobile network coverage. Comprehensive safety audits of areas surrounding all educational institutions will now be conducted.