Govt to appoint specialised agency to digitally map schools, ETEducation
New Delhi: From crumbling classrooms to leaking roofs, the condition of govt school buildings in Delhi is set to come under a digital microscope.
In a shift away from paper files and cosmetic repairs, Delhi govt is preparing to rope in a specialised professional agency to digitally map every govt school in the capital, promising real-time monitoring of infrastructure, safety and upgrade work.
The move aims to ensure that what is repaired on paper is actually fixed on the ground, using digital profiles to track every brick, beam and basic facility across more than 1,000 school campuses.
The move will allow authorities to track construction quality, building safety and facility upgrades through a single, centralised platform.
The model was already tested through a pilot project at a govt school in Narela, which officials described as successful. Based on the pilot, govt decided to scale the system across all govt schools in the city.
Each govt school will undergo a digital assessment covering structural stability, classrooms, toilets, drinking water, electricity, laboratories, libraries, sports facilities, fire safety arrangements and accessibility for children with disabilities. Schools currently under construction or renovation will also be tracked for work quality, timelines and compliance standards.
According to officials, the system will automatically flag gaps by comparing live data with benchmarks laid down by CBSE norms and National Disaster Management Authority guidelines. “Instead of waiting for inspections or complaints, the system will generate alerts where deviations are detected,” the official said.
At the core of the initiative is an AI-enabled infrastructure profiling system, which officials say will fundamentally change how school assets are monitored and maintained. “The objective is to create an inventory of school infrastructure that reflects on-ground reality, not just official files,” an official said.
To build the database, the selected agency is likely to deploy a mix of drone-based surveys, GPS-enabled tagging and 360-degree imaging. These tools will feed into a dedicated digital platform that standardises data and allows school profiles to be updated as improvements are made.
“This will give administrators customised analytical reports on what needs urgent repair, what requires structural intervention and what can be planned over the long term,” the official added.
Experts said the digital mapping will help the education department quickly identify schools lacking basic infrastructure or safety features, enabling targeted allocation of funds instead of uniform spending. The approach is expected to reduce disparities between schools and ensure resources are directed where they are most needed.
“The initiative will strengthen transparency, fix accountability for contractors and officials and shift school infrastructure management towards evidence-based governance, using technology to ensure safer and more resilient learning environments,” the official added.
Students will also be part of the process. Undergraduate engineering students and Class XII pass-outs will support field surveys, gaining hands-on exposure to real-world engineering and urban planning. Their tasks will include physical inspections, capturing drone footage, recording room-by-room 360-degree visuals and uploading data through a web-based application. They will assess classrooms, laboratories, furniture, toilets and electrical fittings, categorising them by conditon.
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