Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said the Delhi government has decided to build hostels to accommodate 10,000 students enrolled in colleges and universities across the city, with sites identified and meetings held with various departments to move the initiative forward.

In a video message on X, Ms. Gupta said ensuring safe, convenient and affordable accommodation for both female and male students was a priority for the government.

“Hostel construction is already under way at some Delhi government universities and institutions, and the scope of the initiative would now be expanded in view of the growing need,” she added.

Hostel construction is under way or has been proposed at several institutions, including Ambedkar University, Dhirpur, G.B. Pant Engineering College and Polytechnic, Indira Gandhi Hospital and Medical College, and Delhi Sports University, according to the Chief Minister.

Ensuring safety

The government’s responsibility would not end with the construction of hostels, Ms. Gupta said, adding that it would also ensure that students’ safety, comfort and essential needs were met.

Delhi is a major education hub, with a large number of youngsters coming from different States to pursue higher education, she said. After securing admission to colleges and universities, one of the biggest challenges they face is finding safe and affordable accommodation, and the government is working to find a permanent solution to the problem.

“The government will also conduct a survey of colleges that have sufficient space for hostel construction. The process of constructing hostels will be expedited after suitable locations are identified,” she added.

Hostels would also be constructed under the public-private partnership (PPP) model, as this would help speed up construction while ensuring proper maintenance and the continued provision of better facilities for students, Ms. Gupta said.

‘Without worry’

The government wanted to build hostels where parents of students coming from different States could leave their children without any worry, she said.

“Students should not have to worry about where they would stay, what the living environment would be like or how food arrangements would be made. They should have access to a safe and comfortable environment so that they can fully focus on their studies, their future and their dreams,” she added.

Every student who came to Delhi to study brought not only their family’s hopes but also a dream for their own future, Ms. Gupta said, adding that it was the government’s responsibility to provide them with a better environment for education and free them from worries about accommodation.

“The Delhi government stands with its students and is committed to providing them with a safe, comfortable and better environment.”