Kalkaji gangrape: 16 of 736 DDA parks have CCTV cameras, safety audit finds

In the wake of the Kalkaji gangrape, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tranjit Singh Sandhu ordered an extensive safety audit of all DDA parks. The agency has divided the parks into three categories for priority-based action: 190 high-risk, 258 medium-risk and 288 low-risk parks.The Kalkaji park where the teen was gangrape had several security lapses, including lack of CCTV cameras, unmanned gates and no proper lighting. (PTI Photo)New Delhi,Oct 2, 2026 13:50 ISTAn internal safety audit of 736 Delhi Development Authority (DDA) parks has found that only 16, or about 2 per cent, have CCTV cameras. The audit was conducted after a 17-year-old teen was gang-raped at a park in Kalkaji by three men posing as police personnel.In the wake of the incident, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Tranjit Singh Sandhu ordered an extensive safety audit of all DDA parks.The agency has divided the parks into three categories for priority-based action: 190 high-risk, 258 medium-risk and 288 low-risk parks.Officials said immediate measures have begun in high-risk parks, including bike patrolling. Armed guards will also be deployed in 134 parks. In a statement, the DDA said, "A total of 520 parks were identified for additional lighting provisions; 231 parks are being taken up for immediate provision. Work was completed in 106 parks on an immediate basis as per an audit conducted last week."The DDA also said CCTV cameras were available in 16 parks, while 323 more parks had been identified for installation of the cameras. Questions over the management of DDA parks were raised after the gang-rape in the DDA-managed Astha Kunj park.The DDA said that 163 parks have been identified for strengthening the access issues, where unlockable gates are converted into lockable gates.According to officials, biometric attendance for security guards has been activated in 602 parks, with the system being implemented in the remaining parks.The DDA also said contact details of local police and beat officers had been shared with field staff and vice versa, while sensitisation on incident reporting and police coordination was being carried out.It added that the coverage of contact-detail distribution was 100 per cent across all parks.The audit has led the DDA to classify all 736 parks by risk level and begin measures including additional lighting, CCTV installation, stronger access control, armed guards, bike patrolling and closer coordination with the police.- Ends