HOSTEL FACILITIES. 1

Colleges having Hostel Facilities. 1

Quota. 2

Other Accommodation. 2

 

HOSTEL FACILITIES

Delhi University attracts maximum number of outstation students. It is estimated that over 10,000 undergraduate students from outside Delhi are admitted every year in the university-affiliated colleges. Delhi University does not offer any hostel accommodation at the undergraduate level, only individual colleges provide hostel facilities. Foreign students are accommodated at International Student’s Hostel. Foreign girl students are accommodated in PG Women’s Hostel. The capacity of college hostels is limited, accommodating less than 20% of all hostel applications. Out of the 13 hostels available for undergraduate students in Delhi University, 11 are in North Campus colleges and 2 are off campus. Candidates seeking admission to hostel may contact the college concerned directly.

Admission to college does not imply admission to the hostel. Colleges reserve hostel seats on the basis of quota for the subjects. This means seats are reserved for each course being offered by the college. Out of the vacant hostel seats, 15% are reserved for SC students and 7.5% for ST students. 3% seats are reserved for the blind and disabled candidates. 10% seats for foreign students. Some seats are also kept for children/ widows of Armed Forces personnel.

The hostel rooms are usually single seater and double seater and in some colleges up to four seater. Single seaters are usually available to third year students and in a few cases to college toppers on merit basis. The numbers of seats given are the total of all three years. The student intake in the first year would be generally one-third of the total seats. Most of the colleges provide hostel for boys. Getting a seat in the college hostel is very tough, even tougher than getting a seat in a course in the college itself. The health care facilities are available through World University Service (WUS) Health Centre, located in North Campus against a nominal fee of Rs. 5 per month.

Colleges having Hostel Facilities

·   Daulat Ram College for Women. Seats: 200. Generally 30 to 40 students are admitted in the first year. Features: Well kept lawns, visiting areas, P.A. system, too many rules and regulations. One of the best hostels for girls. The admission is based on merit. Started in 1974, the hostel is situated in the college premises. The hostel has two kinds of accommodation: single and shared. The matron in consultation with the Warden allocates rooms to selected applicants. Students are provided with all necessities in their rooms like geysers, wardrobes, chairs and cots. Besides facilities for audio and visual entertainment, the girls are also provided with the time and the equipment to sew and iron for two hours in the morning and evening. Students are also given the means to enjoy indoor and outdoor games of their fancy. The final authority in the hostel is the principal. Her say in all matters is final. She is assisted by a Warden and the Hostel admission committee that is responsible for all admissions into the hostel. There is also a students union with a president, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Cultural Secretary and two executive members who are all elected by the residents. Students help in the smooth functioning of the mess and other activities in the hostel. The hostel celebrates all major festivals and pujas.  The deadline for the girl students during summer is 7.15 pm and during winter is 7 pm. All intoxicating products are banned in the hostel premises. Besides this, girls are permitted a night out of the hostel, if parents with the prior approval of the matron, have duly granted permission.

·   Hans Raj College. Seats: 250. It has a Common Room and arrangements for indoor and outdoor games. The hostel has a male Warden, who is generally a teacher from the college faculty itself. Besides this, the hostel is also home to several other committees like the hostel students committee, the Mess Committee, and the Hostel Discipline Committee. It has installed a solar water heater system. The hostel mess is run on a co-operative basis by the teachers and the students’ committees. Students, who want hostel accommodation, are required to submit a separate application of prescribed form (obtainable from the College hostel office) after finalisation of their admission to the College. The hostel gates are open 24 hours and even visitors are allowed but they have to register their names if they wish to enter after 10 pm. The hostel organises hostel fresher’s party, the farewell as well as social nights.

·   Hindu College. Seats: 350 (First year - NRI 2, SC/ST 8 – 10, Physics (H) - 4, Chemistry (H) - 3, Economics (H) - 3). It is situated within the college Campus, next to the large Sports Complex. It is spacious structure, colonial in design, with 121 rooms. The Hostel complex encloses eight large lawns with rose beds and pruned hedges. It has a Common Room for recreation. Other than newspapers and magazines, it provides facilities for table tennis, chess and carom. There is a separate TV. room as well. Three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) are cooked and served by resident hostel employees in the Hostel Mess, which is a composite structure with kitchens, pantries and the dining hall. The boys run the Mess on a co-operative basis, supervising its menu, purchases and accounts. The Hostel Office and the Warden’s Residence are located in the Southern corner of the hostel building. In addition, there are registered Washer man, Dry Cleaner and Newspaper Vendor to provide services to the resident students. A kiosk in front of the hostel serves milk, tea and small eatable every weekday evening. Residents are responsible for maintaining the furniture, furnishings and fixtures provided to them at the time of admission. Social nights are a major attraction. Girl students from other hostels visit and students get a pre-scheduled chance to interact with them. Events like plays and farewell parties are also part of the regular social fare here.

Admission: All prospective candidates are required to procure the Hostel Application form for current admission/ re-admission and for each subsequent year of stay thereafter. All admissions to the Hostel are made strictly on the basis of merit. Only those candidates whose immediate family members do not reside within 30 km. (as the crow files) of the College are considered for admission. In case a resident student fails in his University examination and/or becomes an ex-student of the college, he will lose his Hostel allotment. Subsequently, upon passing he will not get back his Hostel seat automatically. Instead, he has to compete afresh for admission through the new merit list for his batch. Only those whose re-evaluation results certify promotion will be given automatic re-admission. After the successful completion of each academic year, resident students are re-admitted provided their conduct is found satisfactory. Suspension/Expulsion orders can be implemented with regard to any resident student at any point of time on certain grounds.

First year students’ Admissions: The merit list for Hostel Admission is prepared for each subject according to the criteria followed by the respective Departments in college. Every subject has a proportional quota of seats in the Hostel as per the formula: less than or equal to 20 sanctioned seats in College would imply 1 seat in the Hostel; more then 20 sanctioned seat in college would imply 2 seats in the Hostel. A total of 5 seats (all years put together) are reserved in the Hostel for sports admissions. Also seats are reserved in the following categories as per University of Delhi rules and regulations: SC, ST, Handicapped, Foreign Nationals, Sikkim and Army.

Allotment Rules: There are 7 Triple Seater rooms in the Hostel. The initial 21 first year admittees are allotted these seats. All others are allotted Double Seater rooms. In no case, a single seater room shall be allotted to a resident student, except the students of M.A. / M.Com. /M.Sc. (previous) who had single seated room in the last academic session.

·   Indraprastha College for Women. Seats: 200. The hostel constructed in 1952, is named after the college’s first Indian Principal, Kalawati Gupta and is set amidst green stretch of lawns. Features: Kitchen on every floor, small rooms, no laundry service. The students who wish to avail of the hostel facility must fill in the form along with their regular admission forms. Day scholars are barred from hostel. The hostel boasts of TV room, a common room, music system, facility to play table tennis and other regular stipulations like geysers and washing machines. They have additional library access till 7.30 pm and cyber cafe access till 9.30 pm. Apart from the hostel union, there is also a supreme committee, spear headed by the Matron and the Warden. The students’ hostel union looks after the working of the mess, the organisation of festivals as well as provision of magazines and newspapers. Curfew time is seven thirty in the evening but allowances are made to visit the library, the cafe and the Xerox facility. Apart from the usual trail of Indian festivals, all pujas of significance are celebrated here. Apart from this, the Guest Night seems to be an awaited event. The girls are issued passes and can each bring a guest of their own.

·                     International Students House (For Foreign Students). Seats: 66

·                     International Students House for Women (for Foreign Students)

·                     Janki Devi Memorial College. Seats: 100. The college will be ready with a new hostel by the start of the new academic season. The three storied hostel will be within the college premises.

·   Kirori Mal College. Seats: 250. Features: Adequately equipped common room. The hostel provides facilities like a common room for reading, a table tennis room. The students are provided with all the magazines that they want, irrespective of the language that they want them in. The hostel also provides Braille magazines to students who are visually impaired. It also has the necessary facilities to provide residents with all outdoor as well as indoor games. Although the Warden is the reigning authority, students also voice their concerns and opinions through their chosen hostel union. The elections for the union take place amongst the residents themselves, and the elected union takes charge of the social events and other activities of the hostel. Student mess secretaries overlook the working of the mess. They look after various departments, ranging from the menu to the inspection of the groceries. Students celebrate the fresher’s party with a lot of enthusiasm and fervour. However, the most awaited hostel event is the fresher’s trip. Besides this, the hostel is also host to a social night along with a farewell bash. The hostel hold debates, seminars and conferences for residents. The entry of girls is also prohibited beyond six in the evening. However, boys can turn in for the day by 11 pm.

·   Lady Shri Ram College for Women. Seats: 300 (1^st year - 100). The college hostel is called the ‘Residence Hall’ and is located towards the West side of the main college building. The hostel is one of the largest in Delhi University, offering basic as well as modern amenities like a cyber cafe and a Xerox centre. The hostel has two bright common rooms with televisions, a beautiful lawn, a visitor’s lounge and facilities for recreation, welcome living quarters and fine cuisine. It has an extensive in-house library, around the clock medical facilities and a glorious college cafe. Several employees look after the daily chores in the hostel. A college body is also in place for governance. Students are at liberty to individually employ maids for their daily laundry and other requirements.  The Speakers’ Forum regularly invites distinguished personalities to interact with residents. Students  throw a fresher’s welcome party, holds the college fest and a hostel night in December and lots of in-house events. Seven thirty in the evening is curfew time for students. Day scholars are prohibited from entering the hostel premises. Features: Great food, great P.A. System, few bathrooms, fine for leaving the lights or fan on, fixed visiting hours, kitchen locked after 10 p.m. The college sometimes offer a seat to exceptionally good ECA candidate.

·   Lady Irwin College (W). Seats: 240

·   Miranda House College (W). Seats: 285 (First year - Sociology 2, BA 4 –5). Features: Large and spacious rooms, P.A. system, non – veg food only twice in a week, strict gate – in at 9 p.m. Located at the back of the main college complex opposite the Postgraduate Women’s Hostel, the entrance is from Chhatra Marg.  Built in colonial style and renovated repeatedly over the years, the hostel is bound by a magnificent lawn on one side and the college premises on the other. The internal administration and day-to-day discipline of the hostel are looked after by a full-time resident warden. There is a hostel committee consisting of the Principal, Vice-Principal, Bursar and warden, and teacher’s representatives. The students’ say is voiced by the Students’ Hostel Union. This union comprises the president, the Cultural Secretary and students from the Sanitary Committee and the Mess Committee. The students have to submit their local guardian’s consent letter giving reason and duration of overnight stay outside hostel. The hostel warden has to be given a day’s notice. The girls are allowed only limited ‘night outs’. Day scholars are barred from the hostel. If any hosteller wants to bring in a guest for a night, she has to inform the warden beforehand and seek special permission. Even though the hostellers are not allowed to stay away late at night, they are allowed to attend parties in a group where the college provides a bus to take then to the venue on the condition that they should be back by 11pm. In routine days, the hosteller has to be back by 7.30 pm. The roll call is a daily ritual. Apart from the usual slew of magazines and other recreational options, the hostel is also equipped with hi-tech gadgets like a Plasma TV and automatic washing machines. Besides this, the residents are also provided with a kitchen, a pantry and a cyber cafe. The hostel also plays host to numerous societies. Students celebrate all major festivals and pujas in the hostel. One of the most look forward event is ‘Socials’ with another hostel during each term.

Admission procedure for 1^st Year: All the first year undergraduate students desiring Hostel accommodation should submit the application form attached to the prospectus duly filled in by the last date prescribed for submission of collage preliminary admission forms. This application should be submitted to the hostel office. Immediately after the admission to the collage is completed. Students seeking admission in the hostel should register themselves at the Hostel office. They should produce the counter-foil of their application form and the collage fee book at the time of registration. 

Eligibility: Eligibility for admission into the Hostel is on academic merit marks to be computed on the same criteria laid down for college admission for the course but admission will be finalised after a personal interview with the candidate, the parents and the local guardian. This interview will be conducted after the first admission lists in the collage are put up. The decision of the hostel committee is final. Only out-station student are eligible for the hostel admission. At the time of submitting application for the hostel, the candidates are required to submit outstation resident certificate from the concerned local authorities. Those students who desire to avail of a hostel seat under the SC/ST quota are required to produce university SC/ST registration slip. The list of local guardians to be supplied in the admission forms will be subject to the approval of the college authorities. The authorities reserve the right to ask for a change of local guardian.  Students must take re-admission in the second/ third year.

·         Ramjas College. Seats: 200 (Girls 84, Boys 116). Only for students admitted to the college and to those coming from outside Delhi. Admission to the hostel is based on interview – cum – merit. The hostel is distinctly divided into two separate sections. The two blocks on the first floor have been developed exclusively into a self-contained unit to accommodate 84 women students. The 116 male students occupy the remaining four blocks. The Principal, serving as the Executive Head of the hostel, is aided by the Warden. The Hostel Committee, comprising the Warden, elected teachers and students’ representatives, take all policy and administrative related decisions in the light of the guidelines laid down by the Staff Council and other bodies of governance from time to time. The mess is run on a no-profit no-loss basis. The residents primarily manage it via their elected Mess Secretary. A resident may entertain a guest for meals in the mess provided that the student buys a guest coupon, which is available during meals in the dining hall. The fresher’s event and the college fests are an integral part of hostel celebration. It has a modern smart card entry system that will also provide extra security to pantry which is complete with a microwave, fridge and an electric stove. The hostel has laundry system fitted with three washing machines and a dryer where the students can wash their clothes on the basis of common schedule. The gates of the boys hostel by close by 8 pm. Boys will be allowed entry till 9:30 pm. provided they inform the warden about the reason for late stay and state the same in the register. The college, has a separate girls’ hostel, allow them to entertain the local guardians (LG) that their parents have nominated. A register of LGs containing their photos and signatures is also maintained for them. The gates get closed for the girls at 7:30 pm.  Annual expenses – approx Rs. 14000 – 15,500.

·         Shri Ram College of Commerce. Seats: 150 for boys & 53 for girls. There is ‘limited night’ for girls once a week when they can enter hostel at 10:30 pm, instead of 7:30 in the evening. Even for limited night prior permission needs to be taken from warden. During the pre-election period, residents from A-block that is the junior block are supposed to turn in by 10 pm. For residents of B-block, that is the senior block, it is midnight. However, post-election, both seniors and juniors can turn in by midnight. Senior boys can be out till 12.30 am but the girls have to be inside their rooms by 7:30 p.m. Features: Clean ambience, lots of sporting facilities, laundry expensive. The college allows a student to retain a hostel seat for three years only if he/ she perform well. This means that a cut – off list of scores will be prepared internally by the college, which will decide whether a student who secured hostel admission in the first year can hold on to his seat in the second year and so on for third year. The hostel has both a reading and common room for recreational as well as academic perusal. The best part of the SRCC hostel, is the sports facility at premises. They have a gym, swimming pool, an indoor basketball and badminton court, apart from a huge sports ground. Besides a warden for both the girls as well as the boys hostel, the helping staff of the hostel assists the smooth functioning of all hostel chores. There are various committees in the hostel, represented by students. Through these, students take part in daily college routines.  The star attraction of the hostel celebration routine is the hostel night. Besides this, the special food on occasions and the party after the elections are also events that students look forward to.

·         Sri Venkateswara College. Seats: 150 (75 girls, 75 boys). Twin sharing rooms.

·         St. Stephens College. Seats: 535 (including 180 seats for girls). In a manner quite English, the college offers residence to both ladies and gentlemen. The Residence, as the hostel is called, is bifurcated into six blocks, located strategically, and in a most aesthetic manner all around the college facade. Named after former Principals of the college the blocks are known as Allnutt North and South Blocks (Revd. Samuel Scott Allnutt, Founder Principal, 1881-99) Rudra North and South Blocks (Sushil Kumar Rudra, fourth Principal 1906-1923). Mukarji East and West Blocks (Rai Bahadur Satya Nand Mukarji, sixth Principal, 1926-1945). Allnutt South and Rudra South blocks are reserved for accommodating girl residents. First year residents have to reside in shared rooms, whereas second and third year residents get independent rooms. Students can watch television in the Junior Combination Room. Though there is no separate Reading Room available for residents, they can access the library till seven in the evening. The cyber cafe or the internet Resource Centre is also accessible to residents till nine thirty at night. The Dean is in charge of the hostel overall. Each girl’s block has its own Warden. Also, every residential block has its own student representative, but there is no formal hostel union as such. Though there are no formal events like a fresher’s party or the like, residents do indulge in playful activities like interblock cricket matches, or girls versus boys activities. Girls are not allowed to go out after 8:30 at night and they can not roam around inside the campus after ten whereas for boys there is no specific deadline. But if they return after 10 pm, they are required to fill in the late register. Being late two such successive nights in a row, invites strict action by the hostel authorities. In terms of nights out, boys can pack their bags whenever and leave.” But girl students are also allowed four nights out a month; subject to the condition that a duly signed fax reaches the Warden or the local guardian approves the visit, in prior consultations with the Warden. Features: Non – veg food six days a week, spacious rooms, a cosy café and dhaba, fairly large sized rooms, a phone in every block, laundry expensive. It has a common mess and recreation room for the both girls & boys.

·         Vivekanand Mahila College. Seats: 30

·                     Zakir Husain College. Seats: 92

Quota/ Reservation

Scheduled Castes/Tribes Students: Out of the vacant hostel seats, 15% seats are reserved for Scheduled Caste and 7-1/2% for Scheduled Tribe Students. The allotment of seats in Hostels to Scheduled Caste/ Tribe students should be based on merits of Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribe Students of each College and only such students should be considered for Hostel accommodation whose parents are not residing in Delhi.

However, if seats are available, the Head of Institution/ Hostel on the individual merits of the students concerned may examine any hard case of Scheduled Cast/ Tribe students, whose parents are residing in Delhi. Last Date for admission to the Hostel be fixed according to dates fixed for Admission of Scheduled Caste/ Tribe students by the University and that seats remaining unfilled in this reserved category be treated as open seats and be offered to other students after the expiry of last date for admission to Hostels for Scheduled Caste/ Tribe students.

Physically Challenged Students: 3% seats

Foreign Students: 10% seats

Sports: 1% seats are reserved for the outstanding sportsmen/ sportswomen.

Some seats are also reserved for Children/ Wives of the Armed Forces Personnel, killed/ disabled in action or those who died/ were disabled on duty in the Hostels of University and Colleges.

For other details, the candidates are advised to consult the prospectus of the concerned college. Each Institution has its own rules for admission to their hostels.

Other Accommodation

North East Council, which includes all the seven sisters of the northeast, has set up a hostel especially for students from the North – East (about 100 seats). Assam Government runs a women’s hostel, Kamarupa at Shaktinagar, North Campus, for the students from Assam. Delhi University is building another 500 seater hostel for female students from North East.

Army: For dependents (Unmarried sons) of all ranks serving in army, less those posted in Delhi. Admission on first come first basis subject to proof of admission to graduation after 10 + 2. For undergraduates seeking admission in universities in Delhi. Unutilised under graduate vacancies may be filled by postgraduates. Working boys not eligible for admission in hostel. Location: Near Sadar Bazaar. Contact: DAAG ‘A’, HQ Delhi Area. Tel.: 3036022/ 3036026

Many colleges help their students in locating paying guest accommodation. Lady Shriram College (W) College maintains a directory of PG accommodation. Indraprastha College has a committee of teachers who visit the private accommodation at nearby places from time to time. The college keeps a list of students who avail of PG. Kamla Nehru College compiles a list of known and credible accommodation. Sri Venkateshwara College puts up a list of approved PG accommodation at the college notice board. Gargi College (W) maintains a file that has list of places offering PG accommodation near the college premises. Jesus & Mary College (W) student’s union helps students by disseminating information about hostels & PG accommodation available near the college.

Paying Guest accommodation (PG): This is the first option for most students. You get home – made meal, furnished room, security and other facilities depending on the rent.

Rented rooms: Independent rented rooms are more popular with boys. Students can opt for a meal delivery or dabba system for food.

Women’s Hostels: Most like Paying Guest accommodation. Privately managed, these hostels are a huge hit, especially in South Delhi, where residences in private colonies have been converted into such hostels with rooms for up to 40 girls.

According to estimates, there are over 50,000 outstation students living in areas surrounding Delhi University. Rates given below are very general and depend upon the location, facilities and type of accommodation taken.

North Campus: This is the most favoured destination among students, due to its proximity to the main colleges. (All the figures for rent are per month basis for single room, shared room & flat) Ashok Vihar, Aparna Girls Hostel (3200- 5000; Rajpur road), Civil Lines, Christian Colony (1000+;  Rooms very cheap, small & minimally furnished, book shop & photocopy shops), Dhaka (4500 – 7500), Gandhi Vihar (1500 – 3000), Gandhi Ashram (2500; 80 students),  Hakeekat Nagar (1200 – 5000), Hudson Lines (1500 – 8000; sought after, 1.5 kms from Arts faculty, considered safe for girls, good locality, student oriented coaching centres, eating joints, cyber cafe), Huntington Road, Indira Vihar ( 4500 – 7500; secure place for girls; Lots of North East students, no single rooms on rent, only two room sets or flats), Jawahar Nagar (2000 – 8000; Lively environment, near market place, disturbance & chaos), Kamla Nagar (1000 - 4000; 1.5 kms from Arts faculty; good for students of Hans Raj, Hindu, St. Stephen’s; Ideal place to chill out, shop; can be pricey; be prepared for traffic noise and jams due to marketplace, considered safe for girls ), Kingsway Camp (1500 – 4000; 2 kms from Arts faculty), Mukherji Nagar (2000 – 5000; 3 kms from Arts faculty; coaching institutions everywhere; if you face a competitive exam, live here; considered safe for girls, rain means water logging), Model Town (1500 – 2000; 3 kms from Arts faculty), Mall Road, Mall Apartments (2500 – 3500; Opposite International Students Hostel on Ring road), Maurice Nagar, Nehru Nagar, Nehru Vihar (1600 – 3000; 4 kms from Arts faculty; near Mukherjee Nagar & can be reached by a bridge that spans a drain, dhabas close by, the rent is affordable; narrow lanes, water logging), Nivedita Girls Hostel, Outram Lines (1500 – 4500; 2 kms from Arts faculty, lots of North East students), Ohm Girl’s hostel (2700 – 3200; Outram lines), Patel Nagar, Parmanand Colony (3000 – 4500; 3.5 kms from Arts faculty), Roop Nagar (1800 – 4000, good for girls), Rana Pratap Bagh, Shakti Nagar, Timarpur (2 kms from Arts faculty), Vijay Nagar (divided into Single Storey (Good environment, Well constructed houses, high rates), Double Storey (Cheap rooms, congested, dirty area), Old Gupta Colony, New Gupta Colony; 1500 – 7000; 1.5 kms from Arts faculty; parks, bookstores , banks are just a stones’ throw away; equidistance from most North Campus colleges, considered safe for girls).

South Campus: Amar Colony (2000 – 5000, LSR walking distance, eateries near Sapna cinema open till late night, buses to Bhagat Singh College/ CVS from these places; Gargi, Kamla Nehru are nearer but few direct buses), Amrit Nagar (2500 – 6000; not safe for girls), Anand Lok (opposite Gargi college), Anand Niketan (walking distance from Dhaula Kuan), Ber Sarai ( 1500 – 3000), C. R. Park (5 to 6 kms from Kalkaji), Defence Colony (5000 – 10000), East of Kailash (upto 10000, LSR walking distance, buses to Bhagat Singh College/ CVS from these places; Gargi, Kamla Nehru are nearer but few direct buses), Greater Kailash I (4000 – 6000, near LSR), Golf Links (upto 15000), Green Park,  Gautam Nagar (2000 – 6000; buses from South Extension to Gargi/ LSR, very congested), Govindpuri (1800 – 5000; walking distance from Kalkaji), Jamia Nagar, Kotla Mubarkpur (Not safe for girls), Kailash Apartments, Kalkaji (Block G, H, A and B), Khirki Extension, Katwaria Sarai (1800 – 4500), Kalu Sarai, Lado Sarai, Lajpat Nagar I (3500 – 6000; transportation convenient; also close to shopping malls, movie theatres, AIIMS; lacks the academic atmosphere of North Campus), Malviya Nagar (C Block, 3 to 4 kms from Sheikh Sarai), Munirka Vihar (1800 – 5000), Mochi Gaon, Munirka (1800 – 6000; market nearby), Munirka Village (1800 – 2500), Moti Bagh (1800 - 5500, Masjid Moth (2500 – 6000), Nanakpura (1800 – 4500; walking distance from Dhaula Kuan), Neb Sarai (1500 – 3000), National Park (furnished rooms on sharing basis, 8000 – 10000 including meals, LSR walking distance, buses to Bhagat Singh College/ CVS from these places; Gargi, Kamla Nehru are nearer but few direct buses), Panchsheel (1800 – 5500), Shahpur Jat (1800 – 5000), Sheikh Sarai (1800 – 5000; Phase II, Blocks J, K, L), Satya Niketan (2000 – 6000; near Venkateshwara college; has a large student population, number of restaurants & eating joints; does not have a conducive atmosphere for studies; inadequate security, popular with northeast students), South Extension (Safe for girls), Swami Nagar (1800 – 5000), Safdurjung Enclave, Saket (Block J, M, D, 2 to 3 kms from Sheikh Sarai), Sri Niwas Puri, Sarojini Nagar, Vasant Vihar, Vasant Kunj, Vasant Gaon, Yusuf Sarai, Zamrudpur, Zia Sarai (1800 – 4500).

Central Delhi: Connaught Place (10000), Gole Market, Paharganj (3500 - 4000)

East Delhi: Ganesh Nagar, Geeta Nagar, Lakshmi Nagar (3000 – 6000), Shakarpur

West Delhi: Dwaraka (6000), Janakpuri (4500 – 9000), Mansarover Garden, Pusa Road, East Patel Nagar (4500), West Patel Nagar (2500), Rajouri Garden, Stretch from Rajendra Place to Tagore Garden (3000 – 12000),

 

Things you should keep in mind before you choose an accommodation

·   The connectivity of the place with your college. Adequate transport facilities. Calculate commuting charges as part of your monthly bill.

·   Basic facilities like water, electricity supply should be kept in mind. If the rent does not include the electricity bills, ensure you have a separate meter.

·   Availability of hygienic food, whether in you PG or through a Tiffin service. Tiffin service costs another Rs. 1,000 – Rs, 1,200 per month.

·   Check if you room has an attached toilet-bathroom. If not, inspect the common toilet-bathroom for hygiene and cleanliness.

·   Decide on all terms and conditions with your landlord. If possible, keep a legal document signed by both parties. The document should mention rent and other conditions like allowing a month’s notice before vacating the room should be agreed upon beforehand.

·   Be clear about the timings of entry to your room at night. At times, the landlords initially say there are no restrictions, but fuss over it later.

·   Also clarify whether visitors (male or female) will be allowed.

·   For girls it is advisable to choose all – girls’ accommodations. Mukherjee Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Hudson Lines, Vijay Nagar, Outram Lines are considered safer options for girls.

·   Most landlords demand two months rent in advance plus security deposit.

·   Landlords are finicky about the students’ antecedents and prefer to interview them before renting the rooms. Detailed enquires are made to ensure that the student has no ‘bad habits’ or is not of ‘questionable character’. They feel assured about their background if parents are also there. While the grind is minimal for boys, it’s tougher for girls.

·   Rent may not include food (500 – 1200 per month), laundry service expenses, electricity, water charges, air cooler/ heater (300 -500), maid expenses (200 - 500), TV & Washing machine (100 – 800), AC (1500), Cooks (350 – 400)

·   While room sizes vary, double seaters could be cramped and tiny.

·   Some PGs charge extra for furnishing

·   Rents for women are higher by 10 – 20%.

·   Almost all girl PGs and hostels are rigid about timings.

·   It’s always better to rely on word of mouth when looking for places. Get references from peers and seniors about the prospective landlord/ lady.

·   Try to stay at a PG accommodation where either your friends or seniors have stayed

·   Search for house on your own. Visit house owners personally and ask if rooms are available.

·   Always check the place yourself before making any final decisions.

·   Make it clear from the landlord about what is include/ excluded from rent.

·   Some colleges like LSR have prepared a list of PG accommodations based on the experiences of the seniors.

·   Agents charge 25% - 100% of one month rent. Some charge registration/ Token amount which is non refundable.

·   Options available – Double bed, single bed, rooms, hostel

·   Many students prefer to stay in rented flat then PG

·   Develop social groups, go out and interact with as many friends as possible

·   Though tough, follow as many restrictions as you can. It will help you stay on the right side of your landlady and also provide security to you

·   Talk to college counsellors whenever there’s a problem. Or talk to teachers in the college/ department.