Sample Flats for Commonwealth Games Unveiled by Tourism Minister

Tourism minister Kumari Selja inspects the interior of a DDA flat in Vasant Kunj

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) unveiled its sample "hotel" flat for the Commonwealth Games 2010 on Thursday. The flats, which are meant to buffer the shortage of accommodation for tourists that the city may face during the Games, will be handed over to the ministry of tourism in March 2010.

Unveiling the upgraded and furnished DDA flat, tourism minister Kumari Selja said the flat is part of the Alternative Accommodation Scheme for Commonwealth Games 2010 to bridge the shortage of rooms. The tourism ministry is readying more than 5,000 rooms in the DDA flats for the biggest sporting event in the country next year.

Furnishing these rooms at an estimated cost of about Rs 100 crores, there would be 2,709 flats with 5,009 rooms in Vasant Kunj ready before the Games. Flats in different categories are to be upgraded and furnished at par with three-star standard by the Indian Tourism Development Corporation. Selja added that the flats would be ready by ITDC for use much ahead of the Games.

Besides Vasant Kunj flats, there are 330 flats at Jasola which could be used for domestic budget travellers, supporting staff and volunteers of the Games. The tourism ministry is monitoring the requirement for accommodation for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, 2010 being held in Delhi.

The flats incidentally would be later sold off by the DDA as part of its housing scheme once the Games are over. On Thursday, Selja held a meeting with the representative of state governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, all land owning agencies and other stakeholders to take stock of the progress made in respect of various segments of accommodation for the major sporting event. A task force has also been constituted to review and monitor all the hotel projects that are coming up for the Commonwealth Games.

While reviewing the progress of work relating to the new hotel projects she advised the different agencies that each room needs to be accounted for and therefore all concerned agencies should closely review and monitor the Commonwealth Games projects.

As regards the proposal to use licensed guesthouses during the Games, Selja laid stress on the beautification and up-gradation of the surrounding areas by Delhi government as this would be an important factor for overall improvement of the guesthouses.