New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- With at least 247mohalla clinics being shut down, the government is now weighing options to convert the porta cabins that earlier housed these facilities into night shelters for the homeless, government officials aware of the matter said.

The government has directed the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) to assess the present condition of these porta cabins and identify suitable locations where they can be repurposed as shelters.

A government official said DUSIB has sought funds for refurbishments. "DUSIB has estimated that the recurring expenditure to operate and manage a single mohalla clinic as a shelter home would be around Rs.1 lakh per month. This includes costs related to daily operations, manpowe...