Tuesday, May 12, 2009

40% Commonwealth Games projects to be Completed by August

Coordination Committee ‘Impressed’ With The Pace Of Work

During its ongoing review of Commonwealth Games related projects, the Delhi government on Monday told the Games coordination committee that 40% of all the projects - stadia, Games village, roads etc will be completed by August. Moreover, the government will spend approximately Rs 250 crore for the beautification of about 70 to 80 km of roads leading to nine venues.

The committee, according to chief secretary Rakesh Mehta, was ‘‘mightily impressed’’ by the pace of work. The Games are exactly 16 months away.

There are two more meetings scheduled for the next two days and the final picture of the status of Games projects will emerge only after that. Officiating PWD engineer-inchief A K Sinha said at Thyagaraj Stadium, 68% work had been completed. ‘‘Approximately 40%work on the elevated corridors (flyovers) have been completed,’’ he claimed.

However, the Games coordination committee is believed to have expressed its concern about communication, security and also coordination of transport to the Games venue. ‘‘It has asked Delhi government to involve Delhi Transport Corporation as they have experience in running of buses,’’ Mehta said.

In the meeting, a presentation was also made on beautification of roads. According to Public Works Department officials present, four consultants have already been appointed and Delhi government would spend nearly Rs 3 crore per km for this. Sources said approximately 8-9 km would be beautified at each venue.

Among the suggestions for beautification made at the presentation were changes in street furniture, reserving space for public art, plantations, kiosks, landscaping, street-scaping, toilets, walking plazas and also geometric improvement of roads which would add to their aesthetic value apart from easing traffic.

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