Delhi’s New Blueprint to Keep Paying‑Guest Hostels Safe and Affordable

In the aftermath of the heartbreaking collapse at a paying‑guest (PG) house in Satya Niketan, the Delhi government is scrambling to put together a rule‑book that actually protects students. Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood walked journalists through a draft that reads more like a checklist than a piece of legislation – and that’s intentional.

First off, anyone who wants to run a PG will now have to apply for a specific “PG Operating Licence”. No licence, no business. The licence won’t come cheap, because the operator must clear both police and municipal verification, proving the building is sound and the owners are clean‑cut.

Safety‑gear is being forced into the mix, too. All entrances and shared corridors must sport CCTV cameras, and the footage has to be saved for at least thirty days – think of it as a digital “eyes‑on‑the‑ground” system. If a PG houses fifteen or more students, a licensed night guard will be on duty from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. – a simple but solid deterrent against late‑night trouble.

Visitors won’t be left wandering aimlessly either. A register at the front desk becomes mandatory, and non‑resident guests can only enter between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. The idea is to keep the flow of people transparent without turning the place into a fortress.

One of the more human touches is the requirement for a resident warden – either living on the premises or working from an office within half a kilometre. The warden must be reachable within fifteen minutes in any emergency, providing a clear point of contact for students who might feel stranded.

Beyond safety, the draft also tries to tackle the ever‑growing nightmare of soaring rents. A dedicated Rent Regulation Committee would map out “rent bands” for different neighbourhoods, weighing factors like occupancy rates, amenities, proximity to colleges and public transport. In theory, this should curb the arbitrary hikes that many students complain about.

To make sure the whole system works smoothly, an Institutional Accommodation Committee is proposed. It would bring together college officials, student reps, a municipal member and a police liaison. Think of it as a round‑table where real‑world problems are discussed and, hopefully, solved.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has also hinted at broader reforms – periodic structural audits for all buildings used for public purposes, including PGs, and even the idea of repurposing vacant government properties into student housing. At the same time, she’s pushing for expanded hostel capacity in Delhi’s universities.

All told, the policy is still a draft, but it signals a shift from reactive measures to a more structured, accountable approach. If the proposals survive the legislative gauntlet, students in the capital might finally get a safer, more predictable place to call home.