DU plans to build new hostels for 20,000 students, revamp jubilee hall under Rs 5,000-crore proposal

Delhi University’s Executive Council has approved a massive residential infrastructure expansion project of Rs 5,889 crore. The project proposal aims to create modern residential accommodation for 21,895 students, addressing long-standing housing shortages across the university's academic divisions.

Of the entire approved budget, the university administration has set aside Rs 4,027 crore specifically for the building of new multi-story dorms. These newly planned structures will significantly expand overall campus capacity, providing dedicated accommodation for 15,758 students across three primary expansion sites.

The remaining Rs 1,862 crore is earmarked for the comprehensive reconstruction of two existing campus hostels, which will accommodate 6,137 students upon completion. The university confirmed that the redevelopment process will modernize structural facilities while maintaining institutional continuity across both heritage establishments.

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Campus expansion

The construction of new residential facilities will be distributed across the Dhaka Complex, Surajmal Vihar campus and Najafgarh campus. The institutional expansion plan features separate hostel structures for men and women at Veer Savarkar College in Roshanpura, Najafgarh.

The university has also planned distinct male and female residential units at its West Campus in Dwarka, located in the Najafgarh area, as well as the East Campus in Surajmal Vihar, Karkardooma. Due to limited vacant land, the administration intends to utilize the maximum permitted Floor Area Ratio (FAR) across every campus site.

These comprehensive residential complexes will incorporate essential support infrastructure, including self-contained dining halls, quiet reading rooms, common recreational areas, staff quarters for wardens and commercial shop spaces to meet the daily requirements of enrolled scholars within the campus ecosystem.

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Rebuilding hostels

The Executive Council approved the complete reconstruction of Jubilee Hall and the PG Men's Hostel under the scope of structural redevelopment. Addressing queries regarding institutional tradition, Delhi University Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh clarified that the names of both facilities will remain unchanged following structural renewal.

Singh noted that the official building designs have been prepared "keeping the requirements of the 21st century in mind". Singh said that planning for the next 100 years, considering that the circumstances under which its older hostels were built were different from those expected in the future.

The central administration has also urged its constituent colleges to formulate independent proposal drafts for constructing new residential hostels on their respective premises. Colleges have been instructed to submit these completed infrastructural proposals directly to the relevant funding agency for appraisal. The official university announcement did not specify a concrete commencement date or project timeline for the execution of the construction work.