Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta made a surprise inspection of Mukherjee Nagar on Wednesday evening, sitting down with students at a tea shop in the Capital’s coaching hub to hear firsthand complaints about high PG rents, poor street lighting, contaminated drinking water and the lack of affordable libraries.
During the visit, students preparing for competitive examinations and those enrolled in various universities raised a wide range of civic grievances directly with the Chief Minister, who directed officials and local representatives on the spot to act on several of the issues.
Students told the Chief Minister that affordable libraries were scarce in the area and that existing ones shut frequently, disrupting their preparation. They said high fees and operational hurdles made it difficult to find a stable place to study. The Chief Minister directed officials to examine the condition, structural safety and operating status of libraries currently functioning in the area, and asked the local MLA and officials to identify vacant plots or available community buildings where a free library could be set up for students.
On housing, students raised concerns over high Paying Guest rents, security deposits and brokerage charges, telling the Chief Minister that the shortage of hostels was forcing many to rely on private PGs and rented rooms with small spaces, poor ventilation and ongoing construction nearby. The Chief Minister said the Delhi Government was working on a PG policy and on increasing hostel availability to provide organised housing options for students. Students also raised concerns about food quality and living conditions inside PGs.
Female students raised safety concerns, particularly around commuting during late evening hours and poorly lit stretches in the area. The Chief Minister directed officials and police representatives to review the status of street lights and CCTV cameras and take corrective action where required. She also instructed police to act against vehicles found with illegally dark tinted windows operating in the area.
saying students, especially women, needed a safe environment to pursue their studies and daily routines without fear.
The Chief Minister also took note of a public toilet that had remained shut for a long period, directing officials to convert it into a Pink Toilet and make it operational quickly, along with identifying locations for additional toilet blocks where needed.
Students living in Mukherjee Nagar, Nehru Vihar and surrounding colonies complained about irregular cleaning, garbage accumulation and foul smell in narrow lanes, saying sanitation efforts appeared concentrated on main roads while residential lanes were neglected. The Chief Minister directed officials to conduct regular inspections covering both main roads and smaller lanes.
Concerns were also raised about drinking water quality, with students citing the risk of sewer water mixing into supply lines during rains. The Chief Minister asked officials to investigate the complaint and take steps to address water quality and supply issues in the area.
Students additionally flagged disturbance from loudspeakers playing late into the night, affecting their study schedules, and raised concerns about fire safety, exit routes and building suitability at several coaching institutes and libraries. The Chief Minister said noise regulations must be followed and asked students to report violations, while directing officials to inspect fire safety compliance and building suitability at educational institutions in the area.
The Chief Minister said students coming to Delhi from across the country to prepare for competitive exams and pursue higher education were part of the Capital’s extended family, and that it was the Government’s responsibility to ensure they had access to a safe environment, proper amenities and the conditions needed to build their future.