The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is considering outsourcing the management of over 300 community centres and halls across the city to improve service delivery, senior officials confirmed during a review meeting attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh at the Delhi Secretariat on Sunday (July 13, 2025).

 

Mayor Singh told *Hindustan Times* that discussions on the upkeep of community centres took place during the meeting and the corporation is looking to operate these facilities under a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Importantly, he clarified that subsidised booking rates would remain unchanged. These centres, commonly used for events like weddings and social gatherings, are available to the public at nominal rates.

 

Despite high demand for such venues in the capital, many community centres remain underused. MCD data shows it has 299 community halls, with 21 currently non-functional due to poor maintenance. Additionally, all eight community centres are shut as there is little interest in the activities they once hosted.

 

An MCD audit also revealed severe staffing shortages. A senior official explained that nearly 1,288 positions remain vacant, hampering day-to-day operations such as handling bookings, maintenance, and logistics. Outsourcing is expected to help resolve this issue. The official also noted that MCD has already outsourced the management of its 15 swimming pools and similar steps could be taken for the community centres.

 

Past reports indicate low utilisation rates — in South Delhi, 39 halls were booked for less than 10 days annually, 48 for 11–50 days, and 15 for 51–100 days. Only four units saw bookings for over 100 days.

 

In addition to the staffing crunch, other issues contributing to underuse include poor sanitation, inadequate security, and non-functional kitchen and lighting facilities.