Delhi students see red as house rent shoots, courtesy CWG

NEW DELHI - Make hay when the sun shines. The Commonwealth Games may not be getting that many visitors but that has not stopped rapacious landlords from significantly increasing rents and adding to woes of hundreds of students, particularly in north Delhi near the Delhi University campus.

According to Ramesh Sharma of R.K. Properties in Mukherjee Nagar, house rent in the area has gone up by as much as Rs.5,000-6,000 over the last three months - all because of the Games.

Three months back, a two-room house on rent in Delhi was approximately Rs.7,000, but now you can’t get the same set up for less than Rs.12,000 a month, Sharma told IANS.

The only reason why this is happening is because students in the Delhi University college hostels had to vacate their hostels for three months until after the Games and had to look for alternate living arrangements. The landlords have used this to their full advantage and increased the rent, he said.

Raju Srivastava, another property dealer in Kinsway Camp, echoed saying: Rents have shot up so much that a number of students have no choice but to scout for a flat mate so that the cost can be divided.”

A one-room apartment the rent of which was about Rs.5,000 is now Rs.7,000 and the rent for a three-room place which was around Rs.12,000 is anywhere between Rs.14,000 and Rs.18,000.

With colleges closing from Oct 1 until after the Games, a number of out-station students have left for home to escape the costs instead of witnessing the event in the capital. The Games will begin Oct 3 and will culminate Oct 14.

Akhila Daniel, a student who hails from Nagaland, said: I am going back home this weekend and will be back at the end of this month. I would have loved to stay back in Delhi to witness the Games, but I just can’t afford to!”

I have been paying Rs.12,000 for a two-room place in Mukherjee Nagar for the last three months, which is way beyond my budget. But I had no choice since we had to vacate our college hostel. Once I am back, I will shift back to the hostel, she added.

Ravi Jain, another student, said: Landlords here are fleecing the hapless students. Left with no choice, I am sharing a single room apartment with three other boys.”

However, student Shruti Sharma said she would rather give in to another month of fleecing to witness the historic Games in the capital.

I am sure it will be worth it, she said enthusiastically.