New Delhi: Only 16 of the 736 parks managed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) currently have CCTV cameras, while 520 require additional lighting, according to a security audit ordered after the gangrape of a 17-year-old girl in a park in Kalkaji.

The audit, conducted on the directions of Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu, has classified 190 parks as high-risk, 258 as medium-risk and 288 as low-risk.

The review identified gaps involving surveillance, lighting, gates, boundary walls, grills and deployment of security personnel.

Security work in high-risk parks is being prioritised, with the DDA introducing bike patrolling in all such parks.

520 parks need additional lighting

Additional lighting has been identified as necessary in 520 parks. Work has been prioritised in 231 of them, while lighting work has already been completed in 106 parks based on the audit findings.

Officials have identified dark and poorly lit areas as vulnerable locations and are focusing on improving illumination in these sections.

CCTV cameras are currently installed in only 16 DDA parks. The audit has identified 323 more parks where cameras are required.

The proposed surveillance system is intended to monitor vulnerable areas and provide footage for investigation if incidents occur.

The DDA has also identified 163 parks where gates without locks need to be replaced with lockable gates, particularly to improve security during night hours.

Boundary and patrolling gaps

The audit found deficiencies involving boundary walls and grills in 399 parks. The DDA said repair work and replacement of missing grills have already been completed in 233 parks.

Night patrolling has started in 245 major parks, while gunmen have been identified as necessary in 134 parks. Bike patrolling has been introduced across all high-risk parks.

Vulnerable locations around toilets and abandoned or isolated structures have also been identified for corrective action.

To improve accountability, biometric attendance has been introduced for security guards in 602 parks and is being extended to the remaining parks.

The DDA has also shared contact details of local police and beat officers with field staff across all parks. Contact details of DDA field staff have similarly been shared with the concerned police personnel.

SOP and weekly monitoring

The DDA is preparing a standard operating procedure (SOP) covering park patrolling, security guard and supervisor responsibilities, attendance, incident reporting and coordination with police.

Security tender conditions are also being revised. The authority has begun meetings with resident welfare associations to identify local security concerns.

A central master tracker and monitoring dashboard have been created to track corrective measures. Senior officials are expected to inspect parks every week and review progress.

The DDA said its Principal Commissioner inspected Yamuna Biodiversity Park on September 30, while the Principal Commissioner (Horticulture/Landscape/System) visited Kamla Nehru Ridge Park on October 1.

The audit highlights that park security gaps extend beyond CCTV coverage. Lighting, access control, boundary protection, guard accountability and night patrolling have all been identified as areas requiring intervention.

The figures also show the scale of the task: while corrective work has already begun in several parks, hundreds still require additional lighting, CCTV systems or physical security improvements. The DDA's proposed SOP, weekly inspections and monitoring dashboard are intended to create a more structured system for tracking these measures.

The security review follows a serious incident in a Kalkaji park and shifts attention towards preventive measures across DDA-managed public spaces rather than individual locations alone.