The Vasant Kunj flats that were built for Commonwealth Games delegates seem to have no takers. Even as the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) claims that it had 1,300 flats ready by September 23, only 620 people turned up to stay in them. In fact, according to officials working at the complex, even the national technical officials who were staying there have started leaving ‘‘after having completed their work’’.
Besides the Kaveri Tower, all other towers are far from being complete. On Friday, when Times City visited Vasant Kunj, the complex looked deserted. According to the guards, while the dining hall had been completed from the outside, a lot of work inside the hall remained incomplete.
In Saraswati Tower, where officials claimed that 90% of the work had been completed, iron rods could be seen jutting out from various flats. No landscaping work was done and several portions had been barricaded to hide away the under construction areas. An official said: “A lot of work could not be completed on time due to the heavy rains.”
DDA claimed that it had handed over the flats to the Commonwealth Games organizing committee on September 23, and some volunteers had started living there from September 16. Said an official: ‘‘We had 1,300 flats ready by September 23, which meant that 2,700 rooms were made available for the delegates. Only 620 of them are occupied at present. Some national technical officials, who had been staying in the flats earlier, were shifted. We do not know the reason behind this.’’
Meanwhile, the organizing committee claims that the flats at Vasant Kunj are not up to the mark and this is the reason why international technical officials were put up in city hotels. Said OC general secretary Lalit Bhanot: ‘‘We were supposed to provide four-star accommodation to 1,500 international technical officials. The rooms being provided to us at Vasant Kunj are not of this standard. While some national technical officials are now living in these flats others have been provided accommodation near the Games venues as they have to start work early.’’
Even the technical officials who were staying in the flats have started leaving. Said an official at the complex: ‘‘Out of the 805 flats at Kaveri Towers, 700 have been completely furnished. There is no need to furnish more rooms as only 620 Games delegates are using the flats. Some of them have started leaving after having finished their work. Other delegates who belong to Delhi didn’t wish to move into these flats.’’
Besides the Kaveri Tower, all other towers are far from being complete. On Friday, when Times City visited Vasant Kunj, the complex looked deserted. According to the guards, while the dining hall had been completed from the outside, a lot of work inside the hall remained incomplete.
In Saraswati Tower, where officials claimed that 90% of the work had been completed, iron rods could be seen jutting out from various flats. No landscaping work was done and several portions had been barricaded to hide away the under construction areas. An official said: “A lot of work could not be completed on time due to the heavy rains.”
DDA claimed that it had handed over the flats to the Commonwealth Games organizing committee on September 23, and some volunteers had started living there from September 16. Said an official: ‘‘We had 1,300 flats ready by September 23, which meant that 2,700 rooms were made available for the delegates. Only 620 of them are occupied at present. Some national technical officials, who had been staying in the flats earlier, were shifted. We do not know the reason behind this.’’
Meanwhile, the organizing committee claims that the flats at Vasant Kunj are not up to the mark and this is the reason why international technical officials were put up in city hotels. Said OC general secretary Lalit Bhanot: ‘‘We were supposed to provide four-star accommodation to 1,500 international technical officials. The rooms being provided to us at Vasant Kunj are not of this standard. While some national technical officials are now living in these flats others have been provided accommodation near the Games venues as they have to start work early.’’
Even the technical officials who were staying in the flats have started leaving. Said an official at the complex: ‘‘Out of the 805 flats at Kaveri Towers, 700 have been completely furnished. There is no need to furnish more rooms as only 620 Games delegates are using the flats. Some of them have started leaving after having finished their work. Other delegates who belong to Delhi didn’t wish to move into these flats.’’
0 comments:
Post a Comment