New Delhi, Sept. 8 -- The Satya Niketan building collapse has pushed Delhi's long-pending student housing reforms into fast-forward mode, with the government now promising a comprehensive policy to regulate paying guest (PG) accommodations within the next one to two months. The proposed framework is expected to bring PGs under mandatory licensing, introduce zone-wise rent bands and make structural and fire safety audits compulsory.
Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood made the announcement on Tuesday after meeting a delegation of university students, including NSS volunteers, living in PG facilities and rented accommodation at the Delhi Secretariat. The interaction was
convened following the Satya Niketan incident to seek first-hand feedback on safety and living conditions in student housing.
"The Urban Development department was already working on a PG policy, and as I shared with you earlier, on implementing the Justice Gauba Committee report for coaching institutes," Sood said. "But this tragic incident has forced us to speed up the implementation of the Gauba Committee report and frame a policy that addresses everyone's concerns."
Students flagged several problems, including lack of transparency over rents and facilities, landlords not honouring rental agreements, arbitrary electricity charges and inadequate safety checks. They demanded a dedicated portal where PG operators would disclose rents, meal plans, amenities and structural safety details before students take accommodation. Responding to the concerns, Sood said the government was examining ways to make tenancy agreements legally enforceable.
"Since agreements exist between two private individuals, the government is looking into a legal methodology to make these tenancy deeds legally binding," he said.
The proposed Paying Guest Accommodation Regulation and Safety Bill, 2026 is expected to mandate PG operating licences, zone-wise rent bands,
structural and fire safety certifications and regular inspections. A central GovPG portal is also being planned to provide students with information on rents, amenities and safety compliance.
The government is simultaneously looking at expanding hostel capacity. Universities and institutions could be allowed higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to facilitate additional hostel construction. Vacant government properties, including unused buildings in Narela, are also being examined for conversion into student hostels, with direct bus connectivity proposed.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.