AFP image
New Delhi:
Under fire for being way behind schedule with its preparations for the 2010 Games, the Organizing Committee has declared that Delhi will be ready, at any cost. A part of that statement is certainly true.
With more than 12,000 crores being spent, these are by far the most expensive Commonwealth Games. But the huge price tag apparently doesn't guarantee efficiency.
The Games' Federation, led by Mike Fennell, has already expressed its dissatisfaction with the arrangements. Here's why they could be concerned.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the main venue for the Games. It's also where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. But with just 3 months to go before its scheduled completion, only 48 per cent of the venue is ready. That's according to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which visited all venues for the Games between March and May this year.
The Indira Gandhi stadium where the cycling, gymnastics and wrestling events will take place, was meant to be ready by August last year. But more than 50% of the venue lies unfinished even today.
But this is what the CAG is most worried about - the swimming pool at the SPM complex is so far behind schedule that given the current situation, it will not be ready for the Games.
The existing shooting range near the Faridabad border was razed, the new one is not even half-complete, partly because the plans for the shooting range were revised several times and work here only started in October, 2008. The costs for this venue have also jumped from 16 crores to 150 crores.
14 of the 19 sports venues are running behind schedule, so unless Delhi can set some new records of its own, the Games are nowhere near the finish line.
With more than 12,000 crores being spent, these are by far the most expensive Commonwealth Games. But the huge price tag apparently doesn't guarantee efficiency.
The Games' Federation, led by Mike Fennell, has already expressed its dissatisfaction with the arrangements. Here's why they could be concerned.
The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is the main venue for the Games. It's also where the opening and closing ceremonies will be held. But with just 3 months to go before its scheduled completion, only 48 per cent of the venue is ready. That's according to the Comptroller and Auditor General's report, which visited all venues for the Games between March and May this year.
The Indira Gandhi stadium where the cycling, gymnastics and wrestling events will take place, was meant to be ready by August last year. But more than 50% of the venue lies unfinished even today.
But this is what the CAG is most worried about - the swimming pool at the SPM complex is so far behind schedule that given the current situation, it will not be ready for the Games.
The existing shooting range near the Faridabad border was razed, the new one is not even half-complete, partly because the plans for the shooting range were revised several times and work here only started in October, 2008. The costs for this venue have also jumped from 16 crores to 150 crores.
14 of the 19 sports venues are running behind schedule, so unless Delhi can set some new records of its own, the Games are nowhere near the finish line.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
