Full Breakdown
Safety Audit of Delhi Development Authority Parks After Gang-Rape Incident
By Drooid · · How we work
Incident and Audit Trigger
On September 21, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gang-raped inside the 142-acre Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple, with the accused reportedly posing as police officers. The case sparked widespread outrage and prompted Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu to order an immediate safety audit of all parks managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).
Findings of the DDA Safety Audit
The audit examined all 736 DDA-run parks. Only 16 parks—about 2 %—have CCTV surveillance. Parks were classified by risk: 190 as high-risk, 258 as medium-risk, and 288 as low-risk. The audit identified 520 parks needing additional lighting, with 231 slated for immediate work and 106 already completed. It flagged 323 parks for new CCTV installation, 163 parks where gates must be made lockable, and 134 parks requiring armed guards. Additional gaps included the need for night patrolling in 245 major parks, bike patrolling in all high-risk parks, biometric attendance systems in 602 parks (pending in the remainder), safety-information boards in 115 parks, and 484 new signages under implementation. Contact details for local police and beat officers have been shared with field staff across all parks.
Immediate Measures Implemented
Following the audit, the DDA began prioritising interventions in high-risk parks. Bike patrolling has started in those locations, and armed guards are being deployed to the identified 134 parks. Lighting upgrades are proceeding on an immediate basis, and lockable gates are being installed where needed. A central monitoring dashboard has been created, and senior officers conduct weekly inspections. Principal Commissioner-level visits were made to Yamuna Biodiversity Park on September 30 and Kamla Nehru Ridge Park on October 1 to review progress.
Broader Implications
The audit underscores systemic security shortfalls in Delhi’s public green spaces, highlighting the limited CCTV coverage and the need for comprehensive lighting, access control, and patrol measures. By categorising parks by risk and launching targeted upgrades, the DDA aims to improve safety for park users and restore public confidence after the high-profile assault. Continued monitoring and coordination with police are positioned as essential components of the city’s longer-term park-security strategy.