Delhi Urban Shelters Face Closure As Metro Expansion Displaces Over Thousand
The future of several urban homeless shelters in Delhi has come under judicial scrutiny after the city authorities approved their closure to make way for metro rail expansion works. The country’s top court on Friday directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to independently examine the relocation process and report on whether alternative housing arrangements can sustain the displaced population.
At the heart of the matter lies the relocation of eight shelters located in key transport hubs such as Sarai Kale Khan and Anand Vihar. These facilities currently provide nightly refuge to more than 1,000 individuals, many of whom rely on them for survival in the absence of affordable housing. According to records of the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), six similar shelters have already been shut in recent years, reducing the city’s capacity to support the homeless at a time when economic vulnerabilities are pushing more people to depend on such facilities.
The metro rail corporation has argued that the closures are unavoidable due to large-scale construction activity in the area. Authorities maintain that new sites have been earmarked for relocation and will be able to accommodate those currently residing in the affected shelters. However, concerns persist regarding both the adequacy of these replacement sites and the timing of their readiness.In a significant move, the court directed NALSA to carry out inspections after 8 pm to account for peak occupancy, when most homeless people return to these shelters.
The inspection has been mandated to assess three critical parameters: the actual number of people residing in these shelters, whether the alternative facilities can accommodate them, and the availability of essential services at the new sites.
Urban development experts caution that while infrastructure expansion is vital for a rapidly growing city, it must not come at the expense of its most vulnerable citizens.They argue that sustainable and inclusive cities require balanced planning where mobility, housing, and social equity intersect. The closure of existing shelters without adequate transition plans could exacerbate homelessness in Delhi, undermining the vision of equitable and humane urban development.
The court has sought a detailed verification report from NALSA within two weeks, signalling that the matter will not be decided without independent oversight. Officials emphasised that the decision is currently limited to assessing the viability of relocation rather than approving permanent closure, thereby offering a window of relief to those dependent on these shelters.The case brings into sharp focus the tension between infrastructure-led growth and human welfare in India’s cities. As Delhi positions itself as a global capital with modern transport systems, it faces the pressing challenge of ensuring that the urban poor are not rendered invisible in the pursuit of progress.
