Delhi University to more than double hostel seats to 12,754 amid safety concerns

The University of Delhi plans to raise hostel capacity across the university and colleges to 12,754 seats. The expansion has gained urgency after safety concerns, protests and demand for affordable student housing.The university’s latest push comes amid concerns over the availability of safe and affordable accommodation for students, especially those coming from outside Delhi (Image: pexels.com)The University of Delhi is set to more than double its hostel capacity, with the total number of seats across the university and its colleges expected to reach 12,754, officials said on Thursday.At present, the university has 3,422 hostel seats and its colleges have 3,788. With ongoing and planned projects, the university’s capacity is expected to rise to 7,344 seats and that of its colleges to 5,410, taking the combined total to 12,754.Officials said 3,922 seats will be added to the university’s existing hostel capacity, while colleges will add 1,622 seats. The expansion plans have been under way for the past few years, but the recent building collapse at Satya Niketan and the protests by students seeking accountability have brought fresh attention to speeding up the process.The university’s latest push comes amid concerns over the availability of safe and affordable accommodation for students, especially those coming from outside Delhi. Several hostel projects are under construction and are expected to be completed in the coming months. MANY PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ADDITIONAL EXPECTED SOONAccording to a university statement, an Institute of Eminence hostel with a capacity of 1,450 seats is nearing completion at the Dhaka Complex. A 1,000-seat women’s hostel, named Nirbhaya Residential Accommodation, is also being built. A studio apartment complex with a capacity of 1,050 seats is among the other projects under construction, and work on several additional hostel projects is expected to begin soon.The university also plans to submit several new hostel project proposals to the government in the near future. It has asked principals of all colleges to review the residential facilities available to students and speed up the completion of hostel projects already under construction. Principals have also been told to explore the feasibility of building new hostels on their campuses and prepare plans wherever adequate space and other requirements are available. Colleges have been advised to assess available land, government schemes and other requirements before starting construction of new hostel facilities. With these projects, the University of Delhi expects to take its combined hostel capacity across the university and its colleges to 12,754 seats, more than doubling the current availability for students.(With PTI Inputs)- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 10, 2026 19:10 IST