DDA upgrades 520 Delhi parks with lighting, adds CCTV in 323 after security audit
Synopsis
Following an LG-ordered audit of 736 Delhi parks, the DDA has classified 190 as High Risk and launched a rapid overhaul — CCTV in 323 parks, lighting fixes in 520, biometric guard attendance in 602, and night patrolling in 245. A Central Monitoring Dashboard now tracks progress weekly, signalling a shift from ad hoc fixes to a systemic safety framework.
Key Takeaways
The DDA audited 736 parks on orders from Lieutenant Governor T.S.
Sandhu , classifying 190 as High Risk, 258 as Medium Risk, and 288 as Low Risk.
CCTV cameras are being added in 323 parks ; only 16 parks had CCTV before the audit.
Lighting near dark spots is being upgraded in 520 parks ; safety signages being installed in 484 parks .
Night patrolling has begun in 245 major parks ; security personnel requisitioned for 134 High Risk parks .
Biometric attendance for guards is active in 602 parks ; police coordination covers 100% of all parks.
A Central Master Tracker and Monitoring Dashboard has been set up for weekly oversight by senior officers.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has launched a sweeping security overhaul across 736 parks in the capital, installing additional CCTV cameras in 323 parks, boosting lighting near dark spots in 520 parks, and adopting a formal security standard operating procedure (SOP) — all following a comprehensive safety audit ordered by Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu, an official said on Friday, 2 October 2026. Work has already been completed in 106 parks based on findings from the audit conducted the previous week.
How Parks Were Categorised
The security audit classified all 736 DDA parks into three risk tiers: High Risk (190 parks), Medium Risk (258 parks), and Low Risk (288 parks), enabling priority-based rollout of corrective measures. This risk-based segmentation is designed to direct resources to the most vulnerable sites first, rather than applying a uniform, slower approach across all locations.
Prior to the audit, only 16 parks had functional CCTV systems. The identification of 323 additional parks for camera installation marks a significant scale-up in surveillance infrastructure. Safety information boards have been installed in 115 parks, while 484 additional signages are currently being put in place.
Boundary Repairs and Vulnerable Areas
Addressing long-standing concerns over physical security, missing grills and boundary repairs have been completed in 233 of the 399 parks identified for such work. Vulnerable areas around toilets and abandoned structures — locations frequently cited in safety complaints — have also been flagged for corrective action, according to the DDA statement.
Patrolling, Personnel and Police Coordination
Night patrolling has commenced in 245 major parks, and a formal requisition has been submitted for dedicated security personnel in 134 High Risk parks. A coordination meeting chaired by the Officer on Special Duty, attended by all relevant security agencies, was held on 28 September to align response mechanisms.
Biometric attendance systems for security guards have been activated in 602 parks, with rollout continuing in the remaining locations. Contact details of local police and beat officers have been shared with DDA field staff — and vice versa — achieving 100% coverage across all parks. The DDA has also initiated structured engagement with local resident welfare associations (RWAs) to surface park-specific safety concerns and assign targeted corrective actions.
Central Monitoring Dashboard Established
To ensure accountability beyond the initial push, the DDA has set up a Central Master Tracker and Monitoring Dashboard, which will be supplemented by weekly inspections conducted by senior officers. The adopted security SOP covers patrolling protocols, guard performance benchmarks, supervisor accountability, attendance tracking, incident reporting, and police coordination. This comes amid renewed public scrutiny over safety in urban green spaces, particularly after incidents in parks prompted demands for systemic rather than reactive responses.
Point of View
But the numbers reveal how long the baseline was inadequate — only 16 of 736 parks had CCTV before the LG ordered an audit. The real measure of this initiative is not the rollout sprint but whether the Central Monitoring Dashboard translates into sustained accountability after the political spotlight moves on. Biometric attendance and RWA engagement are structurally sound additions, but the requisition for security staff in 134 High Risk parks has not yet been fulfilled — that gap matters most in the short term.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the DDA conduct a security audit of Delhi parks?
The audit was ordered by Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu to assess safety conditions across all DDA-managed parks. It covered 736 parks and resulted in a risk classification and a priority-based security upgrade plan.
How many Delhi parks are getting new CCTV cameras?
The DDA has identified 323 parks for new CCTV installation. Before the audit, only 16 parks had surveillance cameras, making this a major expansion of the city's park security infrastructure.
Which parks are considered High Risk under the DDA audit?
The audit classified 190 parks as High Risk, 258 as Medium Risk, and 288 as Low Risk. High Risk parks are the first in line for security personnel deployment, CCTV installation, and night patrolling.
What is the DDA's new security SOP for parks?
The security standard operating procedure covers patrolling schedules, guard performance standards, supervisor accountability, biometric attendance, incident reporting, and coordination with local police and beat officers. It has been adopted across all DDA parks following the audit.
How is the DDA monitoring progress on park security upgrades?
A Central Master Tracker and Monitoring Dashboard has been established to track implementation in real time, supplemented by weekly physical inspections by senior DDA officers. Biometric guard attendance is already active in 602 parks .
