Delhi's Satya Niketan PGs expose students to unsafe living
A building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan student hub has exposed dangerous living conditions in affordable paying guest accommodations, with residents
A building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan has exposed the hazardous living conditions students endure in the area's affordable paying guest accommodations. The incident has forced residents to question the safety of structures plagued by poor ventilation, weak walls, and absent fire safety measures.
For students arriving in Delhi to study at Delhi University, compromises in housing are routine. Satya Niketan, once a low-density resettlement colony, is now a tightly packed ecosystem of PGs, rented rooms, and shops. Buildings rise three to six storeys, with multiple twin- and triple-sharing rooms squeezed onto each floor.
Structural hazards and resident fears
A visit by Hindustan Times found buildings with dilapidated furniture, narrow corridors, and cramped or obstructed exit routes. In some lanes, vehicles are packed so tightly there is barely room for a four-wheeler. Balconies on opposite sides of narrow streets sit extremely close, with residents separated only by webs of dangling wires.
Students report significant structural problems. Jai Narayan, a 21-year-old student, pointed out that his building is visibly tilted. Ankit Yadav, a 20-year-old student, said the railings on his fifth-floor room move when pressure is applied. He also noted the absence of fire extinguishers. On a terrace, an overflowing water tank had left the area clogged.
The economics of unsafe housing
The stark economics of the area explain why students continue to stay. A shortage of affordable accommodation near colleges pushes them towards PGs where several people share small rooms and basic services incur extra monthly charges. The rent is for beds, not rooms.
| Student | Monthly Rent | Floor | Additional Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jai Narayan | ₹10,000 | Second | Electricity, laundry, food charged separately |
| Ankit Yadav | ₹15,500 | Fifth | Shares room with a friend |
| Ansh Raj Toppo | ₹8,500 | Not specified | Electricity (~₹13/unit), food, laundry |
Students describe poor amenities. Shekhar Kumar, 17, lives in a partitioned section barely 10ft by 8ft, with damp walls, peeling paint, and a roof prone to flooding. Ansh Raj Toppo said his washroom has no ventilation and corridors are small and cramped with no fire exits. "We all live in such accommodations because we can’t afford the rooms at higher rent," he said.
Official response and unauthorized construction
Following the collapse, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi began issuing demolition notices to damaged buildings around the site. Notices issued under Section 348 of the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act give owners three days to demolish buildings deemed ruinous or dangerous. The civic body can carry out the demolition itself and recover the cost if owners fail to comply.
The collapsed building, property number 14, was built in the 1990s on about 55 square yards with no sanctioned building plan, according to senior civic officials. The civic body has yet to explain why its field teams did not stop this unauthorized construction. A senior official said building number 13 was "barely standing" and had been evacuated, while three other structures were being examined.
A changed equation for students
The building collapse has altered the calculus for residents. What was once a trade-off between space and affordability has become, for many students and their families, a question of structural trust. Students reported that when they called an owner to raise concerns, the reply was, "There is no problem and if you wish to leave, it’s your problem." Some residents asked to vacate after the collapse also faced difficulties recovering their security deposits. For students who came to Delhi for a better future, the incident frames a stark question about how much danger they must accept simply to afford a place to live.
