Mukherjee Nagar, known as a hub for UPSC coaching centres in northwest Delhi, recently came under the MCD’s scrutiny following a tragic incident at a coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar.
UPSC Aspirants and Coaching Centres in Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar are facing a period of uncertainty as classes have been suspended due to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s (MCD) sealing drive against establishments operating illegally from basements. The new batch of UPSC aspirants, scheduled to commence in the first week of August, is likely to face delays as most coaching institutes in the areas have ceased operations, apprehensive of a crackdown by the MCD. This situation has left students worried about their preparation for the upcoming exams.
“I am a student of Vision IAS. After the incident in Rajinder Nagar, my coaching classes are shut completely. There is uncertainty about what will happen and when our classes will resume as my Mains exams are approaching,” Amit, a UPSC aspirant, told PTI.
“Most of the institutes are completely closed here. They are neither taking offline or online classes as of now. We have no clarity when will our classes resume,” another civil services aspirant, Aarti, said.
MCD’s Sealing Drive
Mukherjee Nagar, known as a hub for UPSC coaching centres in northwest Delhi, recently came under the MCD’s scrutiny following a tragic incident at a coaching centre in Rajinder Nagar. The MCD’s continued sealing drive aims to close down institutes operating illegally from basements across the city.
Regulations and Student Concerns
As per MCD building bye-laws, basements should only be utilized for parking or storage purposes, prohibiting their commercial use. The prevailing uncertainty has prompted many outstation students to consider returning home to cut down on rent expenses during the suspension period. Additionally, some students have advocated for online classes to mitigate any disruptions in their studies.
“I am from Deoghar in Jharkhand. Since the incident, no classes have been held and no information is being provided regarding the classes. I am planning to go home as I don’t think classes will be resumed in offline mode anytime soon. If they take classes in online mode then I can do that from my home, why will I pay rent here?” Kuldeep, a UPSC aspirant residing in Rajinder Nagar, said.
Coaching centres respond
MCD’s sealing drive
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has intensified its sealing drive, targeting areas housing coaching centers. Recently, the focus shifted to Preet Vihar in east Delhi, following the sealing of 20 basements in Mukherjee Nagar and Rajinder Nagar for unauthorized commercial activities. This crackdown comes in the wake of a devastating incident where three civil services aspirants lost their lives due to a flooded drain at Rau’s IAS Study Circle.
The victims, identified as Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Navin Dalwin from Kerala, tragically died as water inundated the basement library. The MCD’s efforts aim to prevent such mishaps by ensuring compliance with regulations and preventing the misuse of spaces for commercial purposes.
As the sealing drive continues in various parts of the city, the authorities remain vigilant in enforcing safety measures and upholding building standards to safeguard residents and businesses.
