Safety is any parent or student’s first concern when moving to Delhi. My cousin, when moving here for studies, was highly apprehensive. I told him that Delhi is not dangerous; it is a place that just requires a few cautious steps.
Delhi is a safe city for students. It has many student-friendly amenities, like government and private hostels and PGs. Choose a secure place to live. Do not fall into the trap of rising cyber crimes. Girls should be a little careful, especially after dark. Public transport is efficient and safe.
Let’s explore the factors that make Delhi a student-friendly city, some common-sense steps to ensure your safety, how to look for secure accommodation, places to avoid, and how to safeguard yourself from scams.
How Safe is Delhi for Students?
1. Delhi is a Student Friendly City
Delhi is an educational hub with several premier institutions, which is why it is one of the cities in India that attracts students from all over the country.
More than 50 Lakh students migrate across the country yearly for higher education, and Delhi University is one of the top choices.
According to a research paper titled ‘Exploring the Causes of Student Migration in India’, the number of students migrating to Delhi for education has increased from 81,000 to 1.32 lakh (Chapter 9, page number 130, paragraph 2).
This number is expected to rise further. Many students who moved to the city felt that they got better opportunities and developed their personalities, all while feeling safe in the city.
According to the National Institutional Ranking Framework’s (NIRF) recent reports, Miranda House, a Delhi University-affiliated college, admitted 4591 non-Delhiite students in 2024 (Table 2), only a 1.77% decrease from 4673 in 2023 (Table 2).
Housing is the primary concern of students who come from different states. Hostels, paying guest (PG) accommodations, and rented apartments are some available options for students.
Depending on individual budgets, one can choose their dwelling. Houses in South Delhi are usually on a higher side.
Student-friendly areas of Delhi like Mukherjee Nagar, Outram Lane, Laxmi Nagar, Old Rajinder Nagar, Model Town and Hudson Lane have reasonable rents.
Suppose you prefer to share a 1BHK apartment with your friend or live alone.
In that case, rent usually varies between ₹7,500-₹25,000 depending on the locality, flat size, whether it’s furnished, and the work done inside the house.
Like every city, Delhi has areas where students shouldn’t wander and where they shouldn’t choose to live, no matter how cheap the accommodation is.
Keeping Yourself Safe When You First Move to Delhi as a Student
Delhi University (DU) hostels should always be the priority when looking for a place to stay when joining DU for any course. They provide a secure place for students travelling to Delhi for the first time.
These hostels usually have limited seats and are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis. Certain private hostels, like Stanza Living, provide a clean and safe place for a fee.
They are also located in different parts of Delhi. If you have to choose a PG, look for them near your college or at least near a metro station to avoid wasting time travelling.
It is preferable to look for one through a broker to avoid getting cheated. It also ensures that there is someone to speak to in case of an issue with the landlord.
Always check the area, speak to people already staying in the PG, and make detailed enquiries about the amenities that will be available.
If you desire a particular amenity, don’t let anyone talk you down as being luxurious and fancy. Find another PG that provides the same; there is no dearth of PGs in Delhi.
Students who compromise on their needs based on what the house owner dictates suffer the most.
2. Beware of the Cyber Crimes in Delhi
The Hindu reports that nearly 700 people fall victim to cyber crimes daily in Delhi. Young students coming to Delhi for the first time may become soft targets.
This is a new-age problem; crimes like theft and fraud are also happening over the phone. Criminals usually target their victims by creating a sense of fear and urgency.
New students moving to the city may be unaware of these scams and can easily fall prey to cybercriminals’ schemes.
It has become easy to secure phone numbers and other data through various means, such as social media profiles, data brokers, and data breaches.
A student new to the city makes many payments for accommodation, college fees, and other related stuff. It is essential to take care when making these payments when transferring money digitally.
Other than cyber crimes, according to the Delhi Police, over the years, crimes like robbery, murder, and fraud have also increased in the city.
Road fatalities have increased by 5% in the recent past, while burglaries surged by a massive 25.2%. It is important to note that juvenile crimes have also increased.
Delhi ranked 6th with more than 2,340 cases registered against minors. For a young student moving to Delhi, it is necessary to note the data to keep themselves safe.
It becomes imperative to live in areas that are secure and have appropriate security. Do check out my article on moving to Delhi to prepare yourself better for the migration.
Students may like to venture outside to experience the Delhi nightlife, but there has been a rise in the number of crimes that happen at night.
The fact that Delhi saw 36% robberies between 8 pm and midnight points at the support criminals get from the dark for small and big crimes.
Keeping Yourself Safe From Petty Crimes in Delhi
Use only verified applications and links to make payments. Do not transfer money to anyone suspicious. Students should be alert when taking calls from unknown numbers.
They should not believe the caller mindlessly and should do their investigation. Irrespective of gender, it is always safe not to venture late at night unless it is for an emergency.
It is safer to refrain from going to secluded areas. When moving late at night, it is better to move with a group of friends. When venturing to an unknown area, prefer the daytime.
3. Delhi is Safe for Girls, Conditions Apply
The safety of girls is a significant concern for our country, and the capital city is no stranger to this problem.
The media houses, through fear-mongering, have created an atmosphere that Delhi is the most unsafe city in India for a girl.
According to the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau, Delhi tops the list of cities in India unsafe for women.
However, the Delhi Police claims that Delhi is one of the few cities in the country that records every registered complaint, which is why crime rate statistics are high.
The sad reality is that after dark, Delhi does become unsafe for girls. Students, especially those new to the city and unaware of the issue, can become targets of such problems.
During the day, however, Delhi is as safe as any other metropolitan city in the country. It is always safe for girls to have a cut-off time to return home.
Many women in Delhi believe they feel comfortable returning home by 8 pm. Some dark alleyways and spots are seriously unsafe for girls and should be avoided at any cost.
Delhi Police has identified these spots. Some of these spots are paths leading to metro stations, such as:
ITO, Jama Masjid, Uttam Nagar, Janakpuri East, Janakpuri West, Tilak Nagar, Kashmere Gate, Ashok Nagar, and Jahangirpuri.
While selecting a PG, girls must be aware of the security arrangements to ensure their safety.
Some things to keep in mind while choosing a PG are:
- The locality in which the PG is located
- Gentry of the neighbouring residential areas
- Curfew time for the PG
- Whether there are CCTVs installed at the entrance
Delhi police had mandated that PG owners install CCTVs at the entrances and employ guards to safeguard the girls. Some PGs comply with the rule, and many still do not.
Certain areas in Delhi should be avoided altogether, especially at night. These are:
GB Road, Paharganj, Shahdara, Old Delhi Lanes, Seemapuri, Bindapur, Dwarka South, Dwarka North, New Usmanpur, Sultanpuri, Nihal Vihar, Samaypur Badli, Mayur Vihar (except Phase II), Anand Parbat, Lakshmi Nagar, Geeta Colony, New Delhi Railway Station, Chandni Chowk, Seelampur, Burari, Bhalaswa, Badarpur, Madanpur Khadar, Bawana, Narela, and Trilokpuri.
Also check out my article on the safest areas in Delhi where the chances of some mishappening are far less.
Girls coming to Delhi from the northeastern states have to take special care of their safety for the unnecessary novelty attached to their existence.
They are subjected to more stares and often find themselves in an environment that is more conservative than back home.
Many northeastern girls report that they face criticism and racism on micro and macro levels. Cat-calling, sexual remarks, and discrimination by professors, in some instances, have all been reported.
Constant comparisons to Chinese people and racial slurs like ‘chinky’ are all part of the difficulties Northeastern people and girls, in particular, have to face.
To protect their rights, Delhi Police started a special division, Special Police Unit for North East Region (SNUPER), where Northeast Indians can lodge their particular complaints.
Keeping Yourself Safe as a Woman in Delhi
Always be aware of your surroundings, no matter where you are. Avoid travelling at night; if you must, ensure you are in a group or have someone trustworthy drop you back at your hostel or PG.
The Delhi Police have provisions to keep the women of the city safe. A special helpline number, 1091, is available in case of an emergency.
Delhi also has over 2.46 lakh CCTV cameras installed. I just hope most of them do work when they’ll be needed the most.
4. Public Transportation and Safety While Commuting
Delhi has a well-connected public transport system.
It is easy for a student on a tight budget to move around the city at a nominal price, mostly through the metro trains, DTC buses, and e-rickshaws for short distances.
These different forms of transportation are affordable and safe, and there is an abundant CISF and police presence, especially in the metro stations.
In an emergency, you can contact the train operator through an emergency intercom. For other assistance:
- Metro Security Control Room: 22185555
- Police Control Room: 100
- Contact Customer Care Staff/Station Manager
The Delhi metro is a vast network wherein each train has a separate women-only compartment. The tickets for Delhi Metro are reasonably priced.
Plenty of Delhi Transport Corporation buses ply, which are safe and an inexpensive means to travel. Auto rickshaws are the other most commonly used means of transport in Delhi.
Most do not use the metres installed to record the fare. However, since several autos are available, a lot of them generally quote a reasonable price for the trip.
Apart from cabs, you can also book an auto through applications like Uber, Ola, and Rapido, where you book a ride at a fixed price and do not have to trouble yourself with haggling or worry about the auto driver cheating you.
Staying Safe in Delhi While Travelling in Public Transport
Being alert is the key, irrespective of the public transport you are using. If you are a girl travelling alone, use the lady’s compartment while on the metro.
Pickpocketing can also happen while you’re on the metro, so be aware and take extra care of your belongings. Pickpocketing is far more common in the DTC buses.
Ensure the safety of your belongings, especially when the bus is crowded. Girls have reported incidents of harassment on the bus. Thus, they should be vigilant while travelling.
If you are travelling by auto rickshaw, set your Google Maps route to the destination and ensure the auto driver doesn’t take a longer or a different route altogether.
Always haggle with the auto driver for a fair price.