New Delhi,, Sept. 23 -- The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will conduct a comprehensive safety audit of all its parks across Delhi within a week from Thursday, following directions from Lt Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
The audit will focus on lighting, security, regular patrolling and cleanliness in the parks. The move comes in the backdrop of a recent incident reported at Aastha Kunj near Nehru Place. As an interim measure, the DDA Vice Chairman has directed officials to strengthen safety and security arrangements across all DDA parks. Security personnel and field staff have been asked to maintain heightened vigilance, particularly during evening and night hours.
Parks with multiple entry gates will adopt controlled entry arrangements after sunset, with access restricted to selected gates before the scheduled closing time.
The DDA has also directed that CCTV surveillance be installed or augmented at main entry gates and other vulnerable locations. A time-bound assessment will identify dark spots in parks, following which additional lighting, floodlights and other illumination will be provided wherever required.
Additional security personnel will be deployed at vulnerable entry points and poorly lit locations based on risk assessments. Trained security personnel will also be considered wherever necessary.
Safety information boards displaying park rules, emergency contacts and public safety guidelines will be installed in all DDA parks within seven days. The attendance, patrolling and performance of deployed security guards will also be monitored more rigorously through field inspections.
Visitors will be encouraged to use well-lit pathways and illuminated areas during evening hours. The DDA will involve Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) and local stakeholders in strengthening vigilance and promoting community-based safety.
Coordination with concerned agencies will also be strengthened to facilitate increased bike patrolling around parks during night hours.
The DDA has directed that suspicious activities, including illegal activities in and around parks, be promptly reported to the concerned police authorities for immediate action.
Field officers have been asked to implement the measures on priority and continuously review security arrangements. The DDA will coordinate with Delhi Police, RWAs and other stakeholders to strengthen safety and security in its green spaces.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.