Once regarded as a spacious and most-sought after address in Delhi, the Okhla region particularly Jamia Nagar was a welcome escape for families crammed into the congested lanes of Old Delhi. For those weary of life in the Walled City, Okhla, with its greenery and affordable plots, held the promise of a better future. In its early years, the area largely agricultural land owned by local farmers began to transform as migrants from Old Delhi and neighbouring Uttar Pradesh moved in, reshaping the demographic and cultural fabric.

The locality’s appeal was further enhanced by its proximity to Jamia Millia Islamia, a Central University. The institution attracted academics, students, and professionals alike, creating a vibrant intellectual and cultural atmosphere. Over time, Jamia Nagar in Okhla began to flourish, markets buzzed with activity, schools and coaching centres mushroomed, and a strong sense of community took hold. Some streets even evolved into foodie havens, with local entrepreneurs experimenting with fusion cuisine that drew crowds from across Delhi.

It evolved into a melting pot where people from various states coexisted, each preserving and practicing their distinct culture, traditional attire, and cuisine.

“My grandfather settled here at the request of Dr Zakir Hussain, who also gave him a job at Jamia,” said 70-year-old Md Sagheer, recalling the early days. “Back then, it was a vast open area with only a few residents. Over the years, people from across India began moving in. The rise of the flat culture changed everything as the area became overcrowded and lost its original charm,” he said. Dr Zakir Husain, a key figure in the founding of Jamia Millia Islamia, served as its Vice-Chancellor for 22 years from 1926 to 1948. He later went on to become the Governor of Bihar, the Vice President, and ultimately the President of India.

As the population swelled, the demand for housing outpaced civic planning. What was once a semi-urban neighbourhood defined by its openness and tranquility became a dense thicket of concrete and even the narrowest of lanes witnessed the rise of multi-storey buildings.

This unchecked growth was further fueled by national-level changes, economic liberalization, mass urban migration, and repeated political neglect of minority-dominated areas. Periodic episodes of communal tension and riots also pushed vulnerable families to seek refuge in perceived safer zones like Jamia Nagar, further compounding the pressure on space and infrastructure.

The result: A haphazard transformation that has left the locality struggling under its own weight. Once a symbol of hope and upward mobility, Okhla now stands as a cautionary tale of how unregulated development and representatives’ apathy can turn promise into peril.

The dream of clean and green Okhla began to sour

“The educated, middle-class families who once gave this place its identity are now thinking of moving out. There are daily fights over parking. Garbage is often found lying at the doorstep. People build homes and dump construction debris right in front of their neighbour’s house. The situation is terrible. Diseases are bound to increase. There’s no sunlight or proper ventilation in any of the flats. Dampness and termite infestation have become common in almost every flat. No park has been built for children. The parking system is all wrong. Each flat is supposed to get one car and one bike space, but you won’t see any such arrangement in the actual parking area,” said Shaheen Bagh resident Nazia.

A surge in population without a corresponding improvement in civic infrastructure has left many residents deeply frustrated. Flat prices have skyrocketed, and rents have become unaffordable for students, low-income earners, and working families struggling to make ends meet. In stark contrast, those who settled in the area during the early phases when land was available at throwaway prices have now become landlords. Many of them built additional floors on their plots and now earn a steady livelihood from rental income.

This has led to a widening socio-economic gap within the locality. While old residents benefit from rising property values, newcomers are burdened with high rents and inadequate civic amenities such as poor roads, erratic water supply, overflowing drains, and unregulated construction. The unplanned nature of development has put immense pressure on existing infrastructure, with public transport, parking, and garbage disposal systems often falling short of the area’s growing needs.

What was once an affordable, semi-urban settlement has now transformed into a congested residential zone, where real estate demand continues to rise despite deteriorating living conditions. Surprisingly there is no dearth of buyers of flats.

Daily fights over parking in Okhla

One of the most visible signs of this unplanned growth is the constant chaos in the parking areas. Although the standard norm for each flat is one car and one two-wheeler parking spot, in practice, there’s no accountability. “Builders promise parking space on paper, but when residents move in, there’s nothing. Every evening, fights break out over who parked where and at times the fight even turns violent,” said Wasi Imam.

With narrow lanes already congested, vehicles are now double-parked or left on footpaths, blocking access for pedestrians and emergency services.

“Twenty years ago, it was rare to see cars parked along the roads but not anymore. Illegal parking has become a serious menace, with almost every open space now occupied by vehicles. This not only leads to frequent traffic jams but also encroaches upon footpaths, leaving pedestrians with little room to walk and residents with no designated place to park.

“Adding to the chaos is the unchecked rise of automobile workshops in Abul Fazal Enclave. Many of these workshops have illegally taken over portions of the road, while in other areas, shopkeepers have extended their displays and operations onto the streets, further narrowing already congested roads,” said Firoz Ali.

“Despite the scarcity of space, the number of cars continues to rise. Ideally, people should purchase vehicles only if they have adequate parking space, but owning a car has become a symbol of social status fueling a rat race that ignores the ground realities of urban planning and space constraints,” he said.

Garbage and construction debris piling up

Adding to the woes is the complete breakdown of waste management. Garbage is routinely found lying outside homes for days. Some residents have even reported finding household waste and food scraps at their doorsteps, allegedly dumped by nearby tenants, residents or passersby.

Even more disturbing is the trend of dumping construction debris right in front of neighbouring houses. “People build floors and leave the rubble outside someone else’s gate. We complain, but nothing happens,” said another resident, visibly frustrated.

Shaheen Bagh resident Maqsood Alam expressed frustration over the declining standards of cleanliness in the area, blaming both negligence and apathy among locals. “People throw garbage at every street corner without a second thought,” he said. “What’s ironic is that many of these residents consider themselves well-off after all, flat prices here are sky-high. But when it comes to paying just ₹150 a month to the garbage collector, suddenly they turn miserly. It’s a classic case of misplaced priorities.”

Elected representatives of Okhla, too, have come under fire for their inaction on the worsening garbage crisis. Across Jamia Nagar, it is common to see mounds of rotting waste lining the roadsides, left unattended for days, sometimes even weeks, emitting foul stench and posing serious health hazards. What’s even more alarming is the normalisation of this decay; residents, worn down by years of neglect, have resigned themselves to the mess, going about their daily lives in silent acceptance. The absence of public outrage reflects a disturbing level of desensitisation to the collapsing civic standards.

Health risks and deteriorating living conditions

Public health experts warned that the unsanitary conditions could soon lead to a surge in illnesses. Stagnant water, poor drainage, and blocked sunlight in densely packed buildings are already creating breeding grounds for mosquitoes and pests.

“There’s no sunlight in most flats. The alleys between buildings are so narrow, natural light doesn’t reach the rooms. Dampness and termite infestations are now routine in almost every flat,” said a resident Noushu who recently had to spend thousands on pest control and waterproofing.

The persistent dampness inside many flats has taken a toll on residents’ health, with a growing number reporting allergies, respiratory issues, and skin conditions. With high-rise buildings packed closely together, sunlight rarely penetrates the living spaces, leaving residents to spend long hours in poorly ventilated, moisture-laden environments. The lack of natural light and fresh air has turned many homes into breeding grounds for illness, exacerbating health problems in both children and the elderly.

Residents have repeatedly voiced concern over the growing garbage pile-ups that continue to plague the area. Md Wajid, a local resident and aide to Zakir Nagar Councillor Nazia Danish, has been actively urging people not to dump waste in the open. He said it’s a common sight to find food scraps and animal waste rotting along the roadsides, often attracting stray animals who feed on it.

“We’ve observed that some eatery owners and meat sellers, in an attempt to save a few rupees, dispose of their waste on the roadside during the night. Despite several appeals, many refuse to change their habits, leaving us with no choice but to consider strict action,” Wajid said.

Residents living in high-rise buildings of Okhla’s Jamia Nagar have been accused of disposing of garbage wrapped in polythene by throwing it into open drains, vacant plots, or even onto nearby buildings.

No space for children, no vision for future

Despite the rapid construction of flats and an increase in population density in Jamia Nagar in Okhla, no efforts have been made by builders and RWAs to allocate recreational spaces for children. “There’s not a single park here. Children play on the streets, dodging bikes and cars. It’s dangerous,” lamented Gudia Khanam, a mother of two.

Jamia Nagar residents of Okhla said the situation is worsening with each passing year and call for immediate intervention from municipal authorities, urban planners, and local leaders. Without coordinated action, this once-celebrated neighbourhood may soon become an uninhabitable urban slum.