3,200 students at MAMC hostel meant for 200: L-G, CM direct PWD to take action

Indian Express

6 hours ago

With 3,200 students living at the hostel in the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) in Delhi, which can accommodate only 200 students, L-G V K Saxena and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta Thursday directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to immediately prepare a comprehensive plan to accommodate at least 4,000 students and doctors.
The directions came as the L-G and the CM, along with Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, held an emergency meeting on Thursday to review the security, infrastructure, and amenities at MAMC, Lok Nayak Hospital, G B Pant Hospital (GIPMER), and Guru Nanak Eye Centre Complex. The meeting was attended by the deans, directors, and other senior officials from the departments concerned.
'It emerged during the meeting that an extremely serious situation had arisen over the past few years, concerning security of students and doctors, acute shortage of accommodation, crumbling civil infrastructure, and severe lack of space due to encroachments…,' said the L-G office in a statement.
According to officials, the medical complex was established in 1958 with a strength of 200 students, while the current strength is more than 3,200.
'This has led to a situation where, in a room meant for double occupancy, as many as 6-7 students are staying, leaving zero room for even a study table. Similarly, because of a lack of space, resident doctors were forced to sleep and rest in corridors and outside nursing stations,' said an official.
Officials from the L-G office said that the PWD, which had to develop sufficient accommodation for students and residents, had not been able to do anything till now, because land meant for expansion was allegedly captured by encroachers and land mafia.
In addition to this, the existence of certain Archaeological Survey of India-protected monuments near the complex had made the situation even more challenging because of the unavailability of permission for construction and repair by the ASI.
'Dean (MAMC) pointed out that in 2023-24, a three-month window was provided by the ASI to carry out necessary repairs and maintenance work in the existing structures. However, this could not be done due to funds not being sanctioned by the then government, and MAMC was forced to carry out minor repairs by way of crowdfunding,' the official said.
It was also brought to the notice of the L-G, CM, and the Minister that the buildings were in an extremely dilapidated condition, with chunks of plaster and concrete often falling off, threatening the safety and life of students and doctors. If repairs are not carried out immediately, a mishap could take place, said officials.
The L-G and the CM also directed the Delhi Police to immediately ensure adequate security presence on the campus and act against anti-social elements, who, the students had pointed out, were threatening them. 'Police were directed to ensure immediate and stringent action against bootleggers and drug cartels on campus. All land-owning agencies, along with hospital authorities, were directed to immediately carry out a survey of land allotted to these medical institutions and identify the encroachment thereon… As religious structures are encroaching, the department concerned was asked to refer the matter to the religious committee,' said the official.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the Education Department were directed to issue notices to schools illegally operating out of the complex. The ASI was asked to act against encroachers on monuments protected by it, said officials.
Further, the departments concerned have been asked to submit action taken reports, along with pictures, to the L-G, CMO, and Health Minister periodically.