Delhi Orders Safety Inspections at Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar Coaching Hubs
On Wednesday, Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood ordered immediate inspections of fire safety norms, building regulations, and general safety measures at major coaching hubs across the city, including Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar. The directive aims to enforce strict compliance with safety guidelines to protect student welfare.
The government's decision comes two days after a devastating fire broke out in a building housing a coaching centre in Lucknow’s Aliganj. That incident resulted in the deaths of at least 15 people, the majority of whom were students.
Minister Sood chaired a high-level meeting to address the safety gaps in Delhi's coaching centres. The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Urban Development Department, Delhi Fire Services, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), and the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE).
During the meeting, Sood emphasized the government's stance on student safety. "The safety and welfare of students is our priority. Any negligence will not be tolerated. All coaching institutes must strictly comply with safety norms and guidelines," the minister stated.
To implement these safety measures, the minister directed the concerned departments to ensure that coaching centre operators put comprehensive and long-term safety measures into place without any delay.
As part of the enforcement drive, Sood asked the MCD to provide inspection teams with detailed information on all coaching centres currently operating across Delhi. Furthermore, the MCD has been directed to submit a daily action taken report regarding its enforcement and compliance measures.
In addition to the ongoing inspection drive, an official revealed that the Directorate of Higher Education is drafting a comprehensive regulatory framework specifically for coaching institutes. This new framework is intended to address existing systemic gaps, strengthen accountability, improve safety standards, and establish a transparent regulatory mechanism for the sector.
