Some Projects May Get Delayed Further

Organizing a successful commonwealth games next year will be the most priority concern for not only Delhi Government but also for government of India because it relates to our pride and capability to host an event of international importance, but the red tapism and snail's pace of execution might ruin our image in coming days. As nearly all the projects are running behind schedule. Until some days before everyone from ministry to the organizing committee was singing in a same rhythm that the projects will be completed in time but now the murmurs of delays are started in the concerned authorities itself. Read on..

The idea was to dispel fears over the delay in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2010. On Wednesday though, conflicting reports from various organizing committee members only underlined the lack of control within the OC.

While OC chairperson, Suresh Kalmadi, categorically denied any more delays in infrastructure deadlines, co-member and vice-chairperson of the OC, Randhir Singh, admitted that while ‘‘most’’ projects would be ready by the December 31, 2009 deadline, ‘‘some’’ may get delayed further. ‘‘But that is not a matter for worry as they will definitely be ready by March 2010, which gives us plenty of time before the Games in October,’’ insisted Singh.

It wasn’t just Singh talking about further delays. CEO of the OC secreteriat, Vijay K. Gautam, also admitted that the several projects were running on very tight schedules. ‘‘The pace of work has picked up at almost all the venues, and work shifts have increased so that deadlines can be met.’’ However, Gautam added that it was the aquatics venue, namely the SP Mukherjee stadium that was a special cause for concern, as it had been delayed considerably.

According to the OC, once the venues are handed over to it, the OC will take anywhere between 3-5 months more to get the venue ready for the Games. Singh claimed that in the face of test events starting off in February at some of the venues, the pace of work was being ramped up. ‘‘Those venues which are running behind schedule may cause some problem,’’ admitted Singh.

Incidentally, all the infrastructure projects have a December deadline, with only the Rugby space in Delhi University and the cycling velodrome at IG stadium having a March 2010 deadline.

Wednesday’s press meet, in fact, seemed to reiterate the lack of urgency in the Games run-up that has underlined the preparations till now. While Kalmadi was at pains to refute Fennell’s assertion, the showcasing of preparations by the OC didn’t have anything new to show.