CWG village to be ready by March 31: Sports Ministry

India’s junior sports minister Pratik Prakashbapu Patil said Tuesday that 56 percent of construction of the Commonwealth Games Village has been completed and the complex will be ready by March next year.

Patil informed the Lok Sabha that progress of the work at the Commonwealth Games Village is being closely monitored by the sports ministry, CWG organizing committee, chief minister and lieutenant governor of Delhi.

The Minister further informed the House that for the 17 disciplines of CWG-2010, 12 venues will be developed as competition venues and the various venue owning agencies i.e. Sports Authority of India, Delhi Development Authority, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, University of Delhi etc are spending considerable funds for developing these venues as world class venues to deliver the best results.

An amount of Rs.1, 770 crore has been allocated by the Planning Commission to the Govt. of NCT of Delhi for improvement in the city infrastructure which, inter-alia, includes substantial amount for beautification of Delhi. In addition, NDMC and MCD will also spend considerable amount from their own resources for sports and civic infrastructure, power, water etc, he said.

Last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the CWG Village, meant to accommodate over 8,000 athletes from 71 countries, is not being built on the Yamuna riverbed or floodplain.

A bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan gave the verdict, dismissing a Delhi High Court judgment of Nov 2008 and removing all uncertainties over the ongoing construction of the Games Village.