Delhi’s parks are set for a citywide safety audit after the alleged gang-rape of a 17-year-old at the Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple exposed a problem that goes beyond a few broken lights: public spaces can remain officially open while becoming effectively unprotected.
Lieutenant-Governor (L-G) Taranjit Singh Sandhu on Wednesday directed the MCD, Delhi Police and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to complete a comprehensive safety audit of all parks within a week.
Officials have been asked to examine lighting, security arrangements, cleanliness and patrolling, while the Delhi Police have been directed to strengthen beat patrols, including the deployment of Pink Police personnel around parks.
The 142-acre Aastha Kunj, where the alleged incident took place, has multiple access points, while reports have highlighted inadequate lighting, unmanned gates and gaps in CCTV coverage, with several cameras reportedly dysfunctional. The scale and vegetation of the park have also posed challenges for policing.
That makes the audit more consequential than a routine inspection. The question is not simply how many parks have lights or cameras, but whether those systems work together with patrols, access control and emergency response when people actually use parks after dark.
The DDA and the MCD have also been asked to explore partnerships with RWAs, private organisations and educational institutions for sustained upkeep.
For residents, the measure of the audit will therefore be visible on the ground – working lights, monitored entry points, functioning cameras, identifiable patrols and rapid response.
Women commission seeks action-taken report within 7 days
The alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl inside Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple has triggered intervention from the National Commission for Women (NCW), which has put the Delhi Police under a seven-day deadline to report what action has been taken.
The NCW has taken suo motu cognisance of the case and written to the Delhi Police Commissioner seeking a time-bound investigation, immediate action against the accused and an action taken report (ATR) within seven days. The Commission has specifically called for action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, given the victim’s age.
It has sought immediate medical, legal and psychological assistance for the girl, her family and her injured friend. The Commission also called for patrolling in public parks.
