Safety Alarm at Faridabad Govt College as 7,000 Students Attend Classes in Decaying 50-Year-Old Condemned Building Following a fatal building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan, safety concerns have heightened at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College in Faridabad. Students protested on Monday as classes continue inside a 50-year-old building declared condemned by the PWD in 2016. Following the tragic collapse of a paying guest accommodation building in Delhi's Satya Niketan that claimed student lives, serious infrastructure safety concerns have come to the fore at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College in Sector-16, Faridabad. The government institution, which caters to nearly 7,000 students, continues to hold regular academic classes inside a 50-year-old building that was officially condemned by the Public Works Department (PWD) back in 2016. The persistent reliance on a structurally compromised facility has caused growing anxiety among enrolled students and their families. Hundreds of Students Stage Protest at Main Gate Agitated by the lack of structural safety and prolonged administrative neglect, hundreds of students gathered at the college's main entrance on Monday. The protesting students raised strong slogans against Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), the district administration, and the college management for failing to ensure a safe learning environment. As one of Faridabad's most prominent public colleges, the institution boasts a distinguished history, counting several prominent political figures, government ministers, and industry leaders among its alumni. However, current students face severe infrastructure deficits and daily hazards on campus. Construction Delays and Budget Shortfalls Stall New Block To address the deterioration of the original facility, the PWD initiated construction on a modern six-storey academic building in 2019. However, the project suffered major setbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by acute budgetary constraints that severely slowed execution. Although financial allocations were revised upwards on two separate occasions, cumulative delays led the primary construction contractor to pull out of the project. This abrupt termination left the construction incomplete, stranding the campus transition plan in bureaucratic limbo. Daily Hardships: Broken Windows, Unclean Toilets, and Water Shortages Students attending classes in the dilapidated structure report experiencing severe logistical challenges every day. Rahul, a first-year undergraduate student, shared details regarding the poor state of facilities, noting that drinking water availability inside the old building is highly erratic. Students are frequently forced to purchase packaged bottled water from outside vendors. He added that sanitation facilities in the washrooms are alarming, with foul odors and poor hygiene creating potential health hazards. Broken window panes remain unrepaired in several classrooms while ready portions of the new building lie unused. Exposed Rebar, Peeling Plaster, and Lack of Electricity Backup Ravi, a first-year Bachelor of Arts student, offered further insights into classroom conditions. He mentioned that while his specific room is currently functional for lectures, the exterior structure shows visible signs of decay. Wall plaster has flaked off across multiple sections, leaving rusted iron rebars completely exposed. Ravi highlighted that during summer months, frequent power outages occur without any generator backup, causing ceiling fans to stop and making classrooms unbearably hot. Sanitation issues in the toilets also persist, raising fears of contagious infections among students. Relocation Timeline and Official Administration Response Expressing cautious optimism, Sahil Maurya, a first-year B.Com student, noted that while his assigned classroom is structurally stable, the overall building requires immediate replacement. He hopes that classes will successfully transition to the new facility located behind the existing complex within six months. Responding to the concerns, college representative Shaileshwar Kaushik stated over the phone that approximately 90 percent of the construction work on the new building is complete. He assured that as soon as the remaining tasks are finished, students will be relocated to the new campus, emphasizing that current instruction takes place strictly within verified safe rooms. What this means for you This news directly impacts the safety of millions of students studying in aging government educational infrastructure and highlights administrative accountability in public institutions. • Across India: Structural safety audits of aging government college buildings are expected to intensify nationwide. This will ensure safer and more modern learning environments for students across various states. • In Faridabad: Around 7,000 students at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College are expected to be relocated to the new building within six months. This transition will permanently resolve issues related to broken windows, drinking water scarcity, and unhygienic washrooms. • For Parents: Improved structural safety and campus infrastructure will alleviate safety fears among parents. They can send their children to college without worrying about hazardous building conditions. • For Local Administration: The PWD faces heightened pressure to complete stalled construction projects within strict timelines. This could expedite stalled public infrastructure work across the district. Why this happened This crisis arose due to the failure to timely replace a 50-year-old structural body and repeated delays in constructing a replacement facility. Despite being declared condemned in 2016, classes continued owing to the lack of alternative classroom arrangements. • Severe Structural Aging: The current college building is nearly 50 years old and exhibits advanced structural decay. Consequently, the Public Works Department officially declared the structure condemned back in 2016. • COVID-19 Pandemic Disruptions: The PWD initiated the construction of a new six-storey facility in 2019. However, the nationwide outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic severely halted construction activities for a prolonged period. • Budget Deficits and Contractor Exit: Financial shortfalls plagued the project following the pandemic, and despite two funding revisions, construction lagged. Frustrated by endless delays, the initial contractor refused to continue the work, halting construction. • Tragic Trigger in Neighboring Delhi: A recent fatal building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan sparked widespread safety alarms. Fearing a similar catastrophe in their own dilapidated campus, students staged protests on Monday. Questions & Answers 1. Why are students protesting at Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru College in Faridabad? Hundreds of students protested against MDU, district administration, and college management because classes are still being held in a 50-year-old building declared condemned in 2016. 2. What triggered the sudden protest by the students on Monday? The recent collapse of a PG building in Delhi's Satya Niketan that resulted in student deaths heightened safety fears among Faridabad college students. 3. Why was the construction of the new college building delayed? Started in 2019, the 6-storey building project was stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic, budget shortfalls, and the original construction company backing out after two cost revisions. 4. What specific problems are students facing inside the old building? Students report lack of drinking water, broken window panes, dirty toilets, peeling wall plaster with exposed rebar, and no power backup during summer power outages. 5. What response did the college administration give regarding the new building? Official Shaileshwar Kaushik stated that around 90 percent of the new building is complete and students will be shifted there once remaining work finishes, while current classes run only in safe rooms. https://trendkia.com/en/haryana/faridabad-ke-50-sala-purane-sarakari-koleja-men-7-hajara-chhatra-khastahala-imarata-men-parhane-ko-majabura-delhi-hadase-ke-bada-u-30385 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.