“Examining GITAM (Deemed to be University) and Osmania Universities in Hyderabad for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design measures”: A foundation towards a safe CPTED exterior campus model

Abstract

Campus violence in India is a significant public health issue that needs to be addressed in the present scenario. It affects the user groups physically and psychologically. As per the statistical report of Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack (GCPEA) in 2020-21, the total crime incidents occurred in India are 136 along with 2385 harmed members.Out of which the crime rate in Telangana has increased by 4.4% from 2021-2022. The paper attempts to highlight various emerging problems in most of the Indian campuses and as an architect, what has to be adopted while planning for spaces to prevent Crime through Environmental Designing (CPTED) in future is explained. These are achieved by conducting surveys and analyzing based on users and author’s perception at Gandhi Institute of Technology and Management (GITAM) and Osmania University (OU) campuses of Hyderabad. Along with these, secondary data from relevant research papers were obtained and finally formulating architectural findings for an exterior safe campus model. The scope for future research, are adopting the mentioned findings in future campuses and checking for crime reduction rate, along with interior spaces and mechanical systems for CPTED measures. The result of this paper has important implications for the college authorities in India to find practical solutions and plan student- friendly frameworks to prevent violence on a macro level in campuses.