Rekha Gupta Visits Mukherjee Nagar, Promises Relief for Students Facing High Rents and Safety Concerns

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday evening paid a surprise visit to Mukherjee Nagar, one of the national capital’s prominent coaching hubs, to interact with students and assess the challenges they face while preparing for competitive examinations. During the visit, students raised concerns over expensive paying guest (PG) accommodations, the shortage of hostels, women’s safety and inadequate facilities for studying. Gupta directed officials and local representatives to take up the issues and work towards finding solutions.

According to the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Gupta sat with students at a local tea stall and listened to their concerns about accommodation costs, the availability of libraries and the condition of basic civic amenities. She subsequently visited libraries, washrooms and other public facilities to assess the situation on the ground.

Students Flag High PG Rents, Shortage of Hostels

During the interaction, students told Gupta that limited hostel availability had forced many of them to depend on private PG accommodations or rented rooms. The high cost of living in Delhi, particularly in areas surrounding coaching institutes, remains a concern for aspirants who move to the capital from different states to prepare for competitive examinations.

Students also highlighted concerns about women’s safety and the shortage of suitable libraries where they could study in a quiet and affordable environment. The availability and maintenance of basic amenities were among the other issues discussed during the visit.

In a post on X, Gupta said she had met students, heard their concerns and proceeded to inspect libraries, washrooms and civic facilities. She added that officials had been instructed to act swiftly and resolve the problems raised during the interaction.

“Our youth are giving their all to build their future. We will give our all to ensure they have the facilities, opportunities and support they deserve,” Gupta said in her post.

The chief minister also emphasised that students arriving in Delhi from different parts of the country to pursue their education were part of the capital’s larger family. She said the government had a responsibility to provide them with a suitable environment and adequate facilities to support their academic ambitions.

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Rekha Gupta Calls for Free Libraries in Mukherjee Nagar

Addressing concerns about the shortage of affordable study spaces, Gupta directed officials to assess the condition of existing libraries in Mukherjee Nagar. She also asked the local MLA and concerned officials to identify suitable locations, including community buildings, that could potentially be converted into free libraries for students.

The proposed initiative aims to improve access to study facilities, particularly for aspirants who cannot afford expensive private libraries or reading rooms while managing accommodation and other living expenses.

Affordable and accessible study spaces are particularly important in coaching hubs such as Mukherjee Nagar, where students often spend long hours preparing for examinations. The availability of free libraries could help ease some of the financial pressure on students while providing them with a dedicated environment for their studies.

Delhi Government Working on PG Accommodation Policy

Gupta also said the Delhi government was working on a paying guest accommodation policy to address concerns about high rents and the shortage of suitable residential options for students.

The proposed policy is intended to address issues surrounding student accommodation, although specific provisions, implementation timelines and details of any proposed rent-related measures were not outlined during the visit.

For students who relocate to Delhi for competitive examination preparation, accommodation expenses can add significantly to the overall cost of education. The availability of affordable, safe and suitable housing is therefore a key concern, particularly for those who do not have access to hostel facilities.

Gupta asked officials and local public representatives to take the complaints seriously and ensure that the necessary steps were taken to address them.

The visit brought attention to the everyday difficulties faced by students in one of Delhi’s best-known coaching centres. While the government has indicated that it intends to explore free library facilities and develop a PG accommodation policy, students will be looking for concrete measures to improve access to affordable housing, safe surroundings and reliable civic amenities.

The administration’s next steps will determine how quickly the concerns raised during the chief minister’s interaction translate into practical improvements for students in Mukherjee Nagar.