Delhi Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood on Sunday announced that the city will set up over 200 new night shelters, pagodas and temporary waterproof tents to ensure that no homeless person is forced to sleep outdoors as temperatures continue to plunge.
The assurance came during his late-night inspections of two-night shelters, one at Hanuman Mandir (Code 215) and another at Chabi Ganj’s women’s wing (Code 629).
Sood said the Delhi government is treating winter preparedness as a top priority. “No homeless person in the city should be compelled to spend the night out in the open,” he said, directing officials to scale up capacity immediately in view of the intensifying cold wave.
During the inspection, the minister reviewed the availability and functioning of essential services, including beds, warm blankets, heating arrangements, sanitation, food, clean drinking water and security. He sought detailed reports from Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) officials on overall readiness across the city’s shelter network.
Sood instructed DUSIB, shelter management teams and all concerned departments to ensure a steady supply of blankets and comfortable bedding and to maintain strict cleanliness, proper lighting and functional fire-safety systems. He said shelters, particularly those dedicated to women, must have enhanced privacy and security measures.
The minister also directed that rescue teams be deployed more actively at night to bring homeless individuals into shelters rather than leaving them exposed to dangerous temperatures. He emphasised that shelters must be run with “sensitivity and a humane approach”. Sood said more than 200 new pagoda-style shelters and waterproof tent facilities are being set up at key locations.
Rescue teams will use these additional sites to bring homeless people to safe, warm resting points during peak winter nights. He added that he had inspected around 25–26 such temporary shelters the previous night to assess ground conditions.
The minister pointed out that thousands of residents rely on night shelters because they lack permanent housing due to long-standing institutional neglect. He said the Delhi government is committed to ensuring they do not face further hardship, especially during harsh weather.
Recounting observations from another late-night visit, Sood said he met several people near IIT Chowk, between IIT Delhi and RK Puram, who were burning biomass and discarded cloth for warmth. Many told him they avoided night shelters because of poor past experiences. Sood said he assured them that conditions are being upgraded and that their safety and dignity are a priority.
