Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu of Delhi has mandated a significant enhancement of security measures around women’s colleges affiliated with Delhi University, including increased police patrolling, PCR unit deployment, and the establishment of ‘Pink Booths’. The directives were issued during a high-level meeting convened to address student safety concerns in and around educational institutions.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the Lieutenant Governor’s instructions encompass the deployment of additional police personnel, particularly in areas with high student footfall during peak hours, and the implementation of plainclothes surveillance. An emergency response mechanism is also to be established to promptly address incidents of eve-teasing and other safety-related complaints.
The meeting, chaired by the Lieutenant Governor, brought together principals from Delhi University’s women’s colleges, the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University, and senior officials from various government departments including the Delhi Police, Transport Department, Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and Delhi Metro. The primary agenda was to comprehensively review and bolster the safety and security framework for students traversing college campuses and their surrounding vicinities.
Mr. Sandhu emphasized the need for enhanced patrolling and picket-checking not only near college premises but also around key transit points such as Metro stations and isolated road stretches that are frequently used by students. The establishment of Pink Booths, which are dedicated police assistance booths often staffed by women personnel, aims to provide a more accessible and responsive support system for female students. Furthermore, dedicated nodal police officers will be appointed for each college to serve as a direct point of contact for safety-related matters.
A critical component of the directives includes a thorough safety audit of areas surrounding educational institutions. The Lieutenant Governor specifically pointed out the issue of stationary buses parked near colleges, which he noted contribute to obstructed and isolated stretches, potentially compromising student safety. Officials have been instructed to address and rectify such situations.
The review also delved into infrastructure and civic amenities issues that were highlighted by the college principals. Concerns were raised regarding the unregulated operations of e-rickshaws, autos, and taxis, which reportedly solicit passengers and obstruct college entrances. Issues such as the lack of safe last-mile connectivity, encroached footpaths, unregulated street vending, the presence of dark spots, inadequate street lighting, and the safety of parks and public toilets near campuses were also discussed.
In response to these concerns, the Lieutenant Governor directed the PWD and MCD to undertake immediate measures to improve street lighting. This includes repairing existing streetlights and installing high-mast lights to illuminate dark spots on approach roads frequented by students. Adequate lighting and CCTV surveillance are also to be ensured at bus stops and other public stretches to deter criminal activity and enhance general security.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has been tasked with removing unauthorized encroachments and regulating street vendors operating in the vicinity of the colleges. These measures are intended to create a more orderly and secure environment for students, addressing both immediate safety threats and long-term environmental improvements around educational hubs.
The Chenab Times News Desk