DDA Audit Marks 190 Delhi Parks High Risk, Finds CCTV In Only 16
DDA plans additional lighting, surveillance and patrols across vulnerable parks.
A safety audit of 736 parks managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has identified 190 as high-risk, while 520 require additional lighting and only 16 currently have CCTV surveillance. The audit was conducted following directions from Delhi Lieutenant Governor Sardar Taranjit Singh Sandhu, days after a 17-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by three men at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji. The findings have prompted the DDA to outline a series of measures aimed at improving security across its parks.
Of the 736 parks surveyed, 190 were classified as high-risk, 258 as medium-risk and 288 as low-risk based on safety requirements. The DDA said additional lighting is needed in 520 parks, with work at 231 of them being taken up on priority. Lighting improvements have already been completed in 106 parks. The audit also identified vulnerable areas around toilets and abandoned structures that require corrective measures.
Surveillance and access control emerged as other major gaps. Only 16 parks currently have CCTV cameras, although the DDA has identified 323 additional parks where new surveillance systems are proposed. Access-control issues were found in 163 parks, prompting plans to replace unlockable gates with lockable ones. Safety information boards have already been installed in 115 parks, while work on another 484 signboards is underway. Boundary walls and missing grills were also flagged in 399 parks, with repairs already addressed in 233.
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The DDA has begun several security measures following the audit. Night patrolling has started in 245 major parks, while bike patrolling has been introduced across all 190 high-risk parks. The authority has also identified 134 parks where armed guards may be required. Biometric attendance for security guards is operational in 602 parks and is being extended to the remaining parks, while local police station and beat officer contact details have been shared with park staff and police officials.
The audit followed the alleged assault of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park. According to police, the girl had visited Kalkaji Mandir with a 17-year-old male friend on her birthday before the two entered the park through Gate No. 7. Police said three men allegedly approached them, claimed to be policemen, took their mobile phones and separated the girl from her friend before taking her to a secluded area, where she was allegedly assaulted.
The DDA has said it is preparing standard operating procedures covering night patrolling, guard performance, supervisor accountability, attendance, incident reporting and coordination with police. Security provisions in DDA contracts are also being revised, while meetings with Resident Welfare Associations are being held to identify park-specific concerns. A central monitoring dashboard has been established to track implementation, and senior DDA officials are expected to conduct weekly inspections of safety measures.
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