Commonwealth Games hold DU hostels hostage

The Commonwealth Games will play a spoiler for many students seeking admission to Delhi University colleges.

The candidates looking to study in the varsity colleges will not be allotted hostel seats till the Games are over. The hostels will be used to accommodate athletes participating in the Games to be held in October.

So most outstation candidates may have to think twice before taking admissions.

The colleges have already asked second and third year students to vacate the hostels when the Games are in progress.

Principal P.C. Jain of Shri Ram College of Commerce said the college has about 40 per cent of outstation students.

“We will be unable to give any hostel accommodation for the first-year students since the renovation work is underway. They will be allotted seats only after the Games are over. But we will look at other viable options for students,” Jain said.

Colleges such as Hindu and Lady Shri Ram may allot seats to the candidates but they would be asked to move in only after the Games. The wait may actually dissuade students from applying to the university.

“I am new to the city and have no relatives in the city. I was planning to apply to only those colleges which have hostel facilities for girls,” said Radhika Goyal, a DU aspirant from Lucknow.

“The hostels give us a sense of security. But my parents are apprehensive now.”

With no hostels accommodation students will be looking towards paying guests accommodation.

But these will not come cheap as the owners of the PGs are already charging hefty fee as their demand has shot up since the second and third year students will also be availing these accommodations.

The prices have already shot up from Rs 7,000 to Rs 8,500 for a twin-sharing room in areas such as Roop Nagar which is closer to the campus colleges.

But students can take heart as colleges such as Miranda House will allot seats to the first-year students.

“The first-year students will be allotted hostel accommodation as of now,” said Pratibha Jolly, principal of Miranda House. “Should there be a situation where they need to vacate, we will arrange for safe and secure accommodation for them in consultation with parents and local guardians. Whatever the charges, the college will bear them.”