New Delhi, Sept. 10 -- Days after the collapse of a private student hostel in Satya Niketan that killed seven people, Delhi University on Thursday announced a major expansion of its residential infrastructure, with the combined hostel capacity of the university and its colleges set to increase to 12,754 seats.

The announcement assumes significance amid renewed concerns over the shortage of university accommodation that forces thousands of students to depend on private paying guest facilities and rented rooms in areas surrounding DU campuses.

According to the university, DU currently has 3,422 hostel seats at the university level, while another 3,922 seats are being added, which will take the total capacity to 7,344.

DU-affiliated colle...