New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday announced that around one lakh smart streetlights would be installed across the national capital, as she interacted with female student representatives from several colleges to discuss women’s safety, campus security and public transport connectivity.
The meeting was held at the Mukhyamantri Jan Seva Sadan, where students highlighted concerns over poorly lit roads, inadequate police patrolling, unsafe areas around educational institutions and gaps in public transport services.
Gupta said the proposed smart streetlights would be linked to the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) to facilitate monitoring. Under an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) system, agencies concerned would be required to repair non-functional lights within a stipulated timeframe, she said.
The Chief Minister added that additional streetlights around college campuses would be installed wherever required, in coordination with local agencies and college administrations.
To strengthen coordination and ensure quicker action on complaints, Gupta directed officials to establish an active communication channel, including a dedicated WhatsApp group connecting student representatives with administrative and police officials. She also urged students to contact emergency helpline 112 in distress situations.
Representatives from Lady Shri Ram College, Gargi College, Daulat Ram College, Jesus and Mary College, Maitreyi College, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Bharati College and Janki Devi Memorial College attended the interaction.
The students called for safety audits of vulnerable locations, greater deployment of women police personnel, regular patrolling in student areas such as Mukherjee Nagar and Siri Fort Road, and the introduction of accessible Pink Booths.
Public transport emerged as another key concern, with students seeking improved Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and University Special bus services for off-campus colleges, regular stops at designated locations and better regulation of e-rickshaws.
They also sought stronger security arrangements around paying guest accommodations and stressed that campus safety measures should enable women to participate freely in academic and extracurricular activities rather than restrict their movement through curfews.
Gupta said the interaction was aimed at addressing students’ concerns through direct engagement and accountable governance, adding that the government was committed to creating a safer academic environment and improving mobility for women across Delhi.
