Delhi to audit school buildings built during and before AAP tenure; 108 unsafe

Delhi has ordered a structural audit of all old government and government-aided school buildings after 108 were found unsafe. The exercise will guide demolition, repairs and reconstruction while students are shifted to safe nearby buildings if required.

In Short

• 54 unsafe school buildings were found to be in extremely dilapidated condition
• Seven buildings are set for demolition in the first phase soon
• PWD has been asked to estimate repair and rebuilding costs

The Delhi government has ordered a comprehensive structural audit of all old government school buildings in the national capital after identifying 108 government and government-aided school buildings as unsafe and hazardous.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has directed the Public Works Department (PWD) to conduct detailed structural safety assessments of school buildings constructed during the previous Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government as well as those built earlier. The move is aimed at assessing the condition of ageing infrastructure and ensuring the safety of students and teachers.

54 OF 108 BUILDINGS IN EXTREMELY DILAPIDATED CONDITION

A preliminary inspection by the Education Department and the PWD found that 54 of the 108 buildings are in an extremely dilapidated condition. The government has initiated the process to demolish these structures, with seven school buildings expected to be taken down in the first phase over the coming months.

Officials said the PWD has also been asked to estimate the cost of repairing or rebuilding old school structures. Proposals have additionally been submitted for structural audits of 14 more school buildings.

DIGITAL PROFILING OF SCHOOL BUILDINGS

As part of a broader school safety initiative, the Delhi government plans to introduce digital profiling of school buildings. The exercise will scientifically assess each building's structural stability, fire safety, electrical systems and other key safety parameters, enabling periodic monitoring of their condition.

The government said school buildings deemed unsafe will be replaced with modern, earthquake-resistant G+4 structures. It has also announced plans to build permanent school campuses on 27 vacant government land parcels to strengthen education infrastructure across the capital.

Officials said the demolition and reconstruction work will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption to academic activities. Students will be shifted to nearby safe buildings wherever required during the process.

The decision comes months after Aaj Tak aired a ground report highlighting the condition of several government school buildings in Delhi. The report alleged that some school buildings constructed during the previous AAP government's tenure had developed cracks and structural deficiencies within a few years of completion, raising concerns over construction quality.

The Delhi government said the citywide audit is intended to create a safer and more modern learning environment by identifying structurally vulnerable buildings and prioritising their repair or reconstruction.

- Ends