MCD Says 2010 CWG Projects on Track

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has claimed that 2010 Commonwealth Games related projects are on track. It has, however, demanded that L-G Tejendra Khanna should intervene and form an apex committee under his chairmanship to ensure that preparations for the Games gain momentum.

Said standing committee chairman Vijender Gupta: ‘‘The responsibilities entrusted to MCD as part of the Games like facelifting of 36 major roads, landscaping of roads leading to stadia, venue, training centre etc, is well ahead of time. The work of constructing parking over nallah near Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is going on along with other projects. However, we want that an apex committee be formed in order to have better co-ordination between agencies.’’

Attacking the government, Gupta added: ‘‘The Delhi government is yet to initiate a number of projects. Moreover, due to their lackadaisical attitude we have already missed the opportunity of developing infrastructure under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JNURM).’’

However, even as the civic agency claims that MCD is on track with its projects, many of the 16 multi-level automatic parking sites and 17 railway over-bridges and under-bridges (ROB/RUB) that was suppose to get completed before the Games, is yet to begin.

According to Gupta, all projects related to the areas where Games will take place, however, are taking place. He said: ‘‘we have started with Vivek Vihar ROB/RUB project which is near the Games site besides other projects directly related to the Games.’’

MCD also stated the government is not releasing enough funds and due to which it’s taking time to get the projects completed. Said works committee chairman Mahender Nagpal: ‘‘We had asked for Rs 1200 crore from the government for Games projects but have received only Rs 400 crore till date. This will definitely make the process slow as the infrastructure projects take lot of time to finish. As far as road projects are concerned, various agencies are carrying out the maintenance work and we can only re-carpet it once they have done the work.’’

Out of the 16 parking sites, work at Kamla Market was suppose to have begun two years back and the tendering process for others are in various stages, according to commissioner K S Mehra. Moreover, out of the 17 RUBs/ROBs, work is going on for six and MCD is awaiting clearances from Railway Ministry for the others.

Besides this, its decongestion plans for Old Delhi and New Delhi railway stations have also hit a roadblock.