Structural and infra audit: 34 Delhi government schools to be demolished

A total of 34 Delhi government schools have been flagged for demolition after undergoing structural and infrastructure evaluations, with the Directorate of Education (DoE) in the process of finalizing the assessment report before determining the exact demolition and redevelopment requirements for each location, officials disclosed on Thursday.

The team conducting the assessment has completed the ground survey, which encompasses drone-based mapping, and is now scrutinizing the results internally. The scope of the evaluation extends beyond structural safety to encompass the requisite infrastructure and construction needs, such as identifying which aspects of the schools should be demolished, repaired, or reconstructed.

Out of the 34 schools earmarked for demolition, nine have already secured clearance, with 16 cases currently underway, and the remaining proposals at varying stages of assessment and processing. This initiative forms part of a broader initiative by the Delhi government to conduct a comprehensive digital and physical appraisal of its government school infrastructure, officials stated.

The DoE has already carried out digital profiling for 1,090 schools, meticulously documenting the condition of structures and facilities to ascertain infrastructure shortcomings and prioritize necessary repairs, they added. The profiling entailed ground-level inspections, drone surveys, high-resolution imagery, and comprehensive 360-degree documentation of school premises.

The drone survey has now been finalized, and its data is being analyzed by DoE teams to compile the conclusive list of required works. The evaluation has encompassed a plethora of issues, ranging from the structural integrity of buildings to dilapidated structures, to issues related to electricity, water supply, sanitation, and other essential infrastructure.

Some schools have been identified as having waterlogging issues or situated at sites deemed unsuitable for ongoing use as educational campuses, according to an official. Prior to this comprehensive audit, structural assessments had flagged outdated and deteriorated buildings, with several of them exhibiting cracks and other safety hazards.

The Delhi Education department is concurrently striving to enhance school infrastructure, proposing the construction of 27 new permanent school buildings on vacant parcels of land under the DoE, estimated to cost around Rs 900 crore. These structures are envisioned as Ground+4, earthquake-resistant edifices, officials clarified.

The five sites have been strategically divided into five geographical clusters to expedite execution and monitoring. The redevelopment projects are also aimed at augmenting classroom capacity and alleviating overcrowding. Students in schools under demolition will need to be accommodated through phased construction, either by shifting to other blocks or nearby schools, contingent upon site-specific conditions.