The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) will convert more of its under-utilised community centres and halls into libraries-cum-reading rooms after the success of one such facility at the student hub of Old Rajendra Nagar, officials said Thursday.
Terming the ‘Aarambh Pustakalaya’ at Old Rajendra Nagar a success, L-G House officials said work on construction of four other such facilities, along with cafés, is in full swing and are expected to be completed by May. “Work on construction of these libraries are in advanced stages of progress at Adhchini village, Dwarka Sector 16 B, Vikaspuri M Block and Rohini Sector 11,” an official said, adding that these centres are coming up in areas that witness a heavy student population, preparing for competitive exams.
“These 24×7 open libraries or reading rooms will be equipped with multiple facilities like cafeterias, lockers, power-plugs on all seats, air conditioning in summer, newspapers and magazines, separate toilets for men and women, as well as facilities to sit and read outside,” the official said.
The first such centre at Old Rajender Nagar was inaugurated by L-G V K Saxena on January 5. Officials said the centre has received a “tremendous response” from students and competitive examination aspirants living in the Karol Bagh-Rajender Nagar-Patel Nagar hub.
“The L-G had asked the DDA to provide library and reading room facilities to students in the wake of the tragic loss of three young lives due to drowning in the basement of a reading room at a private coaching centre in Rajender Nagar last July,” the official said.
“The L-G, who had visited the site after the tragedy, met the protesting students there and assured them that he will do everything possible to address the issue of exploitative reading room facilities and charges being faced by them.”
The L-G had convened a meeting with DDA officials later and asked them to identify community centres at or close to students’ hubs that could be converted into libraries or reading rooms for use by students.
