Playing it Right for Commonwealth Games

Sudhir Sobti, Director, Media Relations, Organizing Committee, Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi, on preparations for the Games, excerpts from the interview

One of the major events at the time of Commonwealth Games will be Queen's Baton Relay. What plans have been put into place to ensure a smooth journey of baton in all the states of the country and its final arrival at Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium well on time?

The Queen's Baton Relay will be launched by her majesty Queen Elizabeth II on October 29, 2009 from Buckingham Palace, London.

The Queen's Baton Relay would pass through 70 nations and territories and travel through 28 states, 7 union territories and 2 island territories in India.

It will travel through India for 100 days, visiting every Indian state and its capital, plus many other cities along the way, covering in excess of 20,000 kilometers. It will enter India via the Wagah Border (from Pakistan) on June 25, 2010. This day also coincides with 100 days to go for the Games. The route is in a clockwise direction around India starting from the Wagah border.

The baton would use 27 vehicles to travel, including different modes of transport while in India.

The Security Functional Area Operational Plan has been completed by the Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi (OC CWG Delhi 2010) in conjunction with Delhi Police, the key agency for security for the Games and it includes the security of the Queen's Baton Relay in its domestic leg.

There would be approximately 80 staff on road accompanying the baton while on the domestic sector. On arrival at the opening ceremony, the baton will have traveled in excess of 190,000 kilometers over a 340 day period; this will make the Queen's Baton Relay 2010 Delhi one of the longest relays in the history of the Commonwealth Games. The relay will conclude with the final Baton bearer entering the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the XIX Commonwealth Games on October 3, 2010.

Managing traffic is the biggest challenge for the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Now with less than 500 days remaining for the mega event to begin and traffic still a major problem in Delhi, what measures are being taken to iron out traffic related blues?

The govt. of Delhi has planned dedicated lanes for transporting athletes and Games family during the Games. There would be dedicated focal points for pick-up and drop facilities for spectators and workforce including volunteers. The problem of congestion around stadium / venues is addressed by providing park and ride, park and walk facilities near stadium. The Delhi government in coordination with Metro plans to provide shuttle service from Metro stations to the venues. The traffic police will make detailed plans for traffic diversion to minimize inconvenience to public.

The govt. of Delhi is pressing in service CNG run comfortable low floor buses as an alternative to private transport. Development of new lines and extension of existing lines of the metro rail network to improve connectivity between Games venues.