New Delhi:Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has approved an 18-member high-power committee to overhaul student accommodation in Delhi, with a focus on safety, affordability and better regulation. The panel has 60 days to submit its recommendations. Headed by Education Minister Ashish Sood, the committee will assess the gap between demand and availability of student housing and examine ways to expand regulated hostels and other accommodation. The move follows the recent Satya Niketan building collapse, which renewed concerns over overcrowding, structural safety and inadequate facilities in accommodation used by students.

The decision follows a September 7 meeting chaired by the LG and attended by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Sood. The panel will review existing guidelines for paying guest (PG) facilities and explore using vacant government buildings and underutilised DDA properties as student residences.

It will also identify government land and buildings suitable for new hostels and encourage universities and educational institutions to provide safe and affordable accommodation.

A centralised database of institutional hostels and legally registered PG facilities will be considered to improve monitoring. The committee will also explore a digital platform allowing students to report overcrowding, fire hazards and other unsafe conditions.