1 week ago
Delhi PG Investigation Finds Amenities Outpace Safety in Kamla Nagar
NDTV visited several paying-guest homes in Kamla Nagar, Delhi, where students rent beds and rooms.
Prices ranged from Rs 8,500 to Rs 38,000 each month.
More expensive places generally offered larger rooms and more amenities.
Some cheaper places had narrow passages, little ventilation, crowded rooms or dirty washrooms.
The investigation also raised questions about fire exits, extinguishers, building strength and evacuation plans.
Students said they often focus on rent, food and distance from college instead of safety.
Some owners said their buildings were safe or had passed checks, but the investigation reported differences between those claims and what was observed.
Experts advised students to inspect cracks, dampness, blocked exits and fire-safety arrangements before choosing a PG.
An NDTV investigation found PG beds in Kamla Nagar advertised from Rs 8,500 to Rs 38,000 per month.
Lower-cost accommodations often had cramped rooms, poor ventilation, hygiene concerns and limited privacy.
The investigation found electricity charges of Rs 14 per unit at one PG, above stated Delhi domestic and commercial rates.
Students and experts said fire safety, evacuation access, structural condition and building security received less attention than amenities.
PG owners disputed or rejected some findings, citing safety measures, strong buildings, security checks and available facilities.
- Who
- NDTV investigators, students, PG owners, brokers and safety experts, including Eshani Bardhan and Riya Kumari.
- What
- An investigation examined prices, living conditions, amenities and safety measures in Kamla Nagar paying-guest accommodations.
- Where
- Kamla Nagar in North Delhi, with comparisons to the Satya Niketan student area.
- When
- The investigation was reported after students described experiences in 2025 and after a September 6 Satya Niketan PG collapse referenced in the report.
- Why
- To examine whether PG accommodations provide safe and suitable housing for students, beyond advertised amenities.
Students and Safety Experts
PG Owners and Managers
Building safety
Students and Safety Experts
Students and experts questioned narrow passages, blocked or unclear exits, missing visible extinguishers, poor ventilation and the absence of publicly displayed safety information.
PG Owners and Managers
Owners and managers said their buildings were strong, had fire extinguishers or separate exits, or had passed security checks, although some claims differed from what the investigation observed.
Value of accommodation
Students and Safety Experts
Students described cramped rooms, poor hygiene, inadequate food, waterlogging and high rents relative to the quality of living conditions.
PG Owners and Managers
Owners defended higher prices by pointing to amenities such as air conditioning, balconies, meals, furnishings, WiFi and other facilities.
Contracts and resident treatment
Students and Safety Experts
A student said an 11-month lock-in at Gayatri Sadan made her feel trapped, while another account described inflexible food and hygiene conditions.
PG Owners and Managers
Golden Homes promoted one month’s notice and no rent agreement as an advantage compared with PGs that impose longer lock-ins.
Key facts
- Monthly bed prices
- Rs 8,500 to Rs 38,000
- Broker commission
- Typically Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000
- Electricity charge observed
- Rs 14 per unit at one PG
- Delhi electricity rates cited
- Domestic rates of Rs 3 to Rs 8 per unit; commercial rates of Rs 6.50 to Rs 9.50 per unit
- Common contract term
- Some PGs reportedly require an 11-month lock-in period
- Golden Homes occupancy discrepancy
- An owner cited 40 residents, while staff reportedly said the PG housed up to 72
- Safety concerns
- The investigation raised questions about fire exits, extinguishers, ventilation, evacuation access and structural safety
Quotes
Eshani Bardhan
A University of Delhi Zoology student who moved from Siliguri to Delhi.
“Do not go buy words of PG owners. They are good liars. They will show true colours the day your parents drop you at the hostel and leave. All your requests will fall on deaf ears.”
NDTV
“I'm spending Rs 2 lakh per annum on lodging while my college fee is barely Rs 20,000. And the living conditions are abysmal. There is barely any space between houses here.”
NDTV
Sources
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