New Delhi, Sept. 9 -- Days after the collapse of a five-storey paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan claimed seven lives, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday directed the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to intensify its crackdown on illegal construction across the city and launch demolition action wherever violations are found.
Gupta instructed the civic body to carry out extensive inspections of PG accommodations and take action against structures built in violation of sanctioned plans or building norms. She also directed senior MCD officials to remain present on the ground during demolition and enforcement drives, signalling a tighter monitoring mechanism for action against unauthorised structures. The chief minister further asked officials to examine building records to determine when unauthorised construction was carried out and identify the authorities responsible for the premises during the period when the violations occurred.
The directions come in the wake of the September 6 Satya Niketan tragedy, in which seven people were killed after a five-storey building being used as a boys' PG collapsed. According to the FIR, four floors of the structure were allegedly constructed illegally, raising questions over how the additional construction remained undetected despite the building being used as residential accommodation.
Following the incident, the Delhi government ordered structural audits and safety inspections of PG accommodations, particularly in major student and rental-housing clusters such as Mukherjee Nagar, Rajendra Nagar, Laxmi Nagar, Satya Niketan and Saket.
The inspections are expected to cover sanctioned building plans, structural stability, fire-safety clearances and compliance with applicable building regulations. Authorities have also been asked to identify unsafe or unauthorised additions that may pose risks to occupants.
The MCD has separately initiated action against another structure near the collapsed building. An adjoining dilapidated PG was declared unsafe and ordered to be demolished, with the demolition process beginning on Wednesday.
The government is also preparing a broader regulatory framework for the rapidly expanding PG sector through the proposed Paying Guest Accommodation Regulation and Safety Bill, 2026. The legislation is expected to introduce mandatory licensing for PG operators, periodic structural and fire-safety audits, zone-wise rent bands and a centralised portal containing details of registered accommodations.
The regulatory push comes against the backdrop of Delhi's wider rental-housing shortage.
With thousands of students and young workers dependent on such accommodation, the latest crackdown puts the focus not only on illegal construction but also on whether Delhi's enforcement machinery can keep pace with the city's growing demand for affordable rental housing.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.