Three ITDC Hotels to play host to top VIPs during CWG 2010

With 486 days left for the Commonwealth Games, India Thursday named three hotels that will play host to top VIPs who would be in the national capital.

The three hotels - Hotel Ashok, Samrat and Janpath, all under the India Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, a government of India undertaking - would also fill the need for hotel rooms in the capital.

The Organizing Committee Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi and the ITDC Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

Minister of State for Tourism Sultan Ahmed said a budget of around Rs.300 crore (Rs.30 million), including the share of the government and the private sector, will be spent on the renovation of these hotels so that it could roll out the red carpet for international guests.

A total of Rs.146 crore has been sanctioned for the renovation work and upgradation of Hotel Ashok. Also, we have signed a contract with the Delhi Development Authority to furnish the DDA flats up to the standards of three-star hotels, so that we can give accommodation to guests and players there as well, Ahmad told reporters.

The 12-day Commonwealth Games will be hosted by India for the first time in October 2010, organizing Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.

We have too much to do and so work has to be done day and night," he added.

Around 10,000 rooms are there and we require 30,000 more rooms, he said, adding that while 3,300 rooms are being arranged by DDA, 6,200 rooms are being arranged in neighboring Haryana, and 1,800 rooms would be arranged in Uttar Pradesh.

He said the DDA, the housing body in the national capital, is arranging 5,500 rooms in Dwarka and Jasola, there are 11,000 guest houses in the city and 3,000 rooms available through the bed-and-breakfast scheme.

As we expect a bigger inflow of tourists, air-conditioned tented accommodations could also be arranged. Also, we are talking to educational institutions. We are also talking to defense officials to get their grounds, he added.

Kalmadi said while the Hotel Ashok would be offering 500 rooms, Samrat has 60 rooms and Janpath would be offering 120 rooms.

The three hotels, he said, would host members of the Commonwealth Games associations and other federation members.

Humble hospitality, neat and clean ambiance and good food are all that we will offer our guests of the games, said Parvez Dewan, chairman and managing director of ITDC.

We are also in the process of building a six-storey spa in Hotel Janpath. A brand new range of restaurants will be opened shortly that will offer the guest a wide range of specialties of cuisines from around the world, added Dewan.

2010 CWG Exceeding its Expected Budget

Higher construction costs will force the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games to go six to eight % over the planned $1.6 billion budget and there will be some delays completing the facilities, an organizing committee director said on Wednesday.

Two of the Games venues will miss the December 2009 deadline, the organizing committee joint director general, Tribhuvan Shawkar Darbari, said at a UK India Business Council Conference.

The cycling metrodome will not be ready until March 2010, while the swimming pool complex should be completed sometime between Jan. 31 and Feb 15 2010.

Increases in construction costs such as steel, cement and labour have led to the increase in costs, Darbari said.

"Deadlines have to be maintained so the revalidation of the budget, the re-appropriation and so on, as a strategy, has been worked out," he said.

"I think if you take it on an aggregate value it should be around about 6-8 percent more." He added: "There is an inflation factor. It's an overall increase in costs."

Government figures in December estimated expenditure at around 79 billion rupees ($1.6 billion). Darbari said the 6-8 percent increase was on this figure.

He also said measures had been taken to contain the costs and ensure completion of venues in times for the Games, which are scheduled from Oct. 3-14, 2010.

These include government guarantees for construction materials in short supply and a focused group of ministers which will cut through bureaucracy and provide fast-track clearances for anything linked to the Games.

The Commonwealth Games Federation raised concerns over the slow pace of work last year, which forced the 2009 world badminton championships to be shifted to Hyderabad.

Women taxi drivers make their way to Indian roads

Women in India are choosing to make a living driving cabs. Authorities say they want at least 500 lady drivers before the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

But little is being done to make the roads and their male counterparts friendlier.

Delhi’s roads are notorious for rash driving and poor traffic discipline. But it’s overcoming India’s tradition of male-only taxi drivers that’s proved the biggest barrier to women like Suchita Jaiswal joining that profession.

Six months ago she was a housewife. But Suchita wanted to learn how to drive, and is now one of twenty women in the city proudly driving cabs.

“Driving here is not easy, it’s a challenge. On the road, some men misbehave with us, while others compliment us. But we manage. We ignore the men who try to intimidate us,” says Suchita, who now woks for the Forshe taxi service.

This taxi service was recently launched in Delhi to cater especially for women. It gives female passengers added peace of mind.

Safety is a concern for the women drivers too. A Delhi-based NGO has started a two-month program that trains girls from poor families to become drivers. The trainees are learning self-defense techniques to better protect themselves on the roads.

Rubina Khan, 19, found this changed the way she drives:

“I used to be very scared while driving, that someone would hit the car or harass me. But now I drive very confidently, and don’t let other drivers intimidate me. This self-defense training has helped me a lot – if a man harasses me, I slap him. I’m not scared now.”

Convincing girls from poor families to come forward is the biggest stumbling block. In India’s middle class, women have been driving a long time, but for poor families, letting their daughters go out to work as a driver is an alien concept.

Twenty- year-old Chandni refused to take up stereotypically ‘female’ work like sewing or cooking. She was lucky as her family was supportive. Her father Pyarelal overcame his initial skepticism and gave her his blessing.

“In my family, no girl is allowed to do a man’s job. So I was scared in the beginning to tell my father. But I plucked up the courage to tell him. He was very supportive, and has been my biggest support till now,” she said.

Still, many male cabbies in Delhi are convinced women aren’t good enough drivers. Taxi driver Sohan Singh is not at all complimentary of his female colleagues.

“Ten per cent of women drivers drive properly, but the remaining 90 per cent don’t know how to drive at all. They don’t follow the rules and drive in the centre of the road. You can keep blowing your horn, but they won’t give way,” he says.

Criticism like that doesn’t deter girls like Chandni. She’s applied for a commercial license to work as a driver. Earning 100 dollars a month means she could then take control of her life, and follow her own road.

Blueline buses will be Phased Out from July: Delhi Government

Ahead of the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Delhi Government has decided to start phasing out of Blueline (often called as blood lines by Delhites) buses from July onwards by replacing them with modern buses over a period of next five months.

The Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi Government had announced last year that it would phase out the buses since witnessing a big public outcry over Blueline buses after being blamed to be involved in a number of road accidents involving several deaths.

Delhi's Transport Minister, Arvinder Singh Lovely, has told media that the phase out of Blueline buses would start from July onwards and would take at least five months to conclude the entire process. Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) would have a fleet of around 5,000 modern buses during the Commonwealth Games.

The government wants to put in place a modern bus fleet ahead of the forthcoming games in the city.

At present, nearly 2,200 Blue line buses are plying on the city's roads. Apart from the existing low floor buses, the city will get another lot of 2,500 vehicles in next couple of months.

The Cabinet has shown 'green signal' to Delhi Transport Corporation to procure 1,000 semi-low floor buses to augment the fleet of modern buses in the national capital.

India is ahead in countdown for CWG: Suresh Kalmadi

Chairman of the organizing Committee of Commonwealth Games, Suresh Kalmadi has said that India is ahead of the deadline in the completion of the all facilities to host the Commonwealth Games at New Delhi in 2010.

Addressing a press conference after visiting a couple of sites here on Friday, Kalmadi said, "As the Chairman of the managing committee of the Commonwealth Games, I'm telling you that the things are on track and everything is on schedule and some things are ahead of schedule.

As far as the security is concerned, he mentioned that India is well prepared and none of the participating nations need to worry on this aspect.

"Two officials from the Commonwealth Games Federation have met the Home Secretary and we are in constant touch with them and we are giving them all our feedback. You know there is no question of being satisfied. It's a continuous process and we will have to do our best as far as security is concerned and we are at it," added Kalmadi.

The Commonwealth Games is expected to boost India's image as a global powerhouse. The games may also provide rich pickings for real estate developers.

Delhi is to stage the 2010 Commonwealth Games at an estimated cost of 70 billion rupees.

Delhi had bagged the contract after beating the Canadian city Hamilton in the bid for the games.

Plans to Make 2010 CWG a Huge Success

Wooing more foreign tourists and making the 2010 Commonwealth Games a grand success will be the main priorities of the Tourism Ministry.

"Our preparations are in full swing to make the Commonwealth Games next year a grand success," Tourism Minister Kumari Selja told reporters after assuming charge here today.

The mega sport event is slated to be held in October 2010 in the capital.

"We are expecting about one lakh tourists during the Games and steps are underway to cater to their needs," she said.

Acknowledging the drop in foreign tourist arrival in recent months, she said due to the Mumbai terror attack and the economic slowdown not many foreigners are visiting the country.

The number of foreign tourist arrival in April 2009 was 3.71 lakh as compared to 3.84 lakh in April last year and 3.51 lakh in April 2007.

"We have to launch a vigorous campaign to attract foreign tourists. It is also a major a source of foreign exchange earnings," she said.

The Ministry is conducting road shows in coordination with tour operators in several cities across the world to attract tourists

New I&B minister to focus on Commonwealth Games telecast

Terming the telecast of the 2010 Commonwealth Games one of the priority areas for her ministry, Ambika Soni, the new Information and Broadcasting (I&B) minister, today said she would review matters pertaining to public broadcaster Prasar Bharati’s functioning and the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) being heard by the Delhi High Court over the alleged financial irregularities in Prasar Bharati.

Prasar Bharati has to undertake the production and telecast of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in high definition format, considered at least three times costlier than the existing standard definition. However, due to legal hurdles and allegations of financial mismanagement within the Prasar Bharati board, no forward action in the matter has taken place since the past six months, senior government officials say.

“Commonwealth Games are important for us. I will be interacting with my officials on all important matters before the ministry. I have also called for the papers related to the functioning of Prasar Bharati and the PIL that is being heard in the court, among other things, for my understanding,” Soni said while on her first visit to the I&B ministry after getting the portfolio on Thursday evening.

Taking stock of her ministry and its officials on the first working day after being allocated the charge of a Cabinet minister at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), Ambika Soni said she would take all the stakeholders into confidence before taking decisions on issues facing the media industry.

“I am not taking the charge today. I am here to meet my officials and see the ministry. I will take charge on Monday,” Soni said.

However, on being asked to outline her priorities in the I&B ministry, she said Commonwealth Games and its telecast would be a key issue for her. “I will also be looking at content code among all other key issues before the ministry. I am being briefed by my Secretary and other senior officials and I will come to media on my priorities at a later date,” said Soni.

The Prasar Bharati board and its functioning has been under a cloud for a past few months after its ex-chairman Arun Bhatnagar, who resigned a few days back citing irregularity in the functioning of top management of Prasar Bharati, alleged financial irregularities within Prasar Bharati. A PIL has also been filed in the Delhi High Court.

Prasar Bharati being the host broadcasters for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, has to telecast the 14-day international tournament in high definition as mandated by the Commonwealth Games organising committee.

So far, the Prasar Bharati has not been able to take a decision on whether to outsource the entire coverage of the Commonwealth Games to a third-party through a tender process or to do it using the available resources of Doordarshan.

Soni was earlier the minister for Tourism and Culture in the 14th Lok Sabha. There are two Ministers of State in the ministry in Mohan Jatua and S Jagathrakshakan who, according to senior officials, will also take formal charge on June 1 along with Soni.

Soni is also expected to take up pending policy issues including policy on Headend-In-the-Sky (HITS), a move that will open doors for the digital delivery of cable channels across the country at one go using satellites.

Also, expansion and review of Conditional Access System (CAS) in rest of the country, expansion of private FM radio business are among the top priorities awaiting the attention of Soni, say senior officials of the I&B ministry.

Sports Minister Sets His Priorities From CWG to hockey

For Sports Minister M.S. Gill, Thursday was not his first day in office but a continuation after a brief vacation. From the Commonwealth Games to forming an unified hockey body, Gill will have a busy time ahead as he took charge for his second stint in office.

This time Gill has more powers as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s new team.

Gill is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead and knows that there isn’t much time on hand. The venues of the Commonwealth Games, to be held here Oct 3-14, 2010 are yet to be finished. Adding to this, hockey’s world body FIH has already asked India to quickly form a democratic body to run the sport, failing to which India may lose the 2010 men’s World Cup scheduled in March.

The sports minister said finishing the construction work of the seven venues for the 2010 Commonwealth Games and forming Hockey India, a unified body for both men and women players, will top his priorities.

“The construction cost for the 2010 Commonwealth Games has gone up to Rs. 24.6 billion from Rs.10 billion. The money has been sanctioned by the cabinet and is scheduled to be released in batches. I can assure you that all the venues, except the cycling velodrome and the Karni Singh Shooting Range will be completed by December. These two stadiums will be ready by February,” Gill said.
The former chief election commissioner also said the Commonwealth Games Co-ordination Committee is doing its best to meet the infrastructure deadline.

“We have been hammering out things irrespective of each other’s presence. The chief minister of Delhi Sheila Dixit has full faith in me. We know that if anything goes wrong everyone will be blamed,” said Gill.

Gill also assured that the hockey ad-hoc committee, which was set-up by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to run the game, will soon be replaced by Hockey India.

“I had a meeting with FIH president Leandro Negre, when he came to India earlier this month. We had long discussions with Negre and IOA president Suresh (Kalmadi). The FIH was impressed with the construction work at the National Stadium (World Cup venue). We are confident of hosting the World Cup,” he said.

Steps for Clean Air Before 2010 CWG

When China’s Beijing City was preparing to host the 2008 Olympics, the city authorities divided the cars into two neat groups: odd-numbered nameplates and even-numbered nameplates. The ‘odd’ and ‘even’ cars were allowed to ply on the city’s thoroughfares on alternate days. It was neither a funny coincidence, nor a media-friendly exercise.

The drill was part of an elaborate action plan to bring down city’s much-criticized air pollution level.

As Delhi gets ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the deadline to clean up its air is also inching closer.

Ninety-nine polluting units, including acid and cement units, have to be moved out by February 2010.

There is still no concrete plan to bring down the emission levels of cars the main cause of pollution.

Further, hectic construction activity is making the Capital’s air dirtier, especially in winter.
That air pollution affects athletes the most is well documented; though mostly only in the international scenario.

A 2002 study published in the medical journal Lancet said that asthma increases in children who play more than three sports in places with high ozone levels. This is because athletes tend to breathe in larger quantities of air. In Delhi (and the rest of the country), air pollution is monitored only on two spatial categories: residential areas and industrial areas. There is no monitoring of areas which are Commonwealth Games centric: like sports stadiums or the construction sites.

The Capital, meanwhile, is rolling up its sleeves to tackle dirty air at the policy level. “In a public notice, we have given 99 polluting units time till February 6, 2010 to move out of the city. If they don’t comply, they will be facing strict action,” said Dr A K Ambasht, Member Secretary, Delhi Pollution Control Committee.

At least four more city forests are also expected to come up by the time of the Games. But more needs to be done, say experts.

Indo-American Olympic medalist visited Delhi

Indo-American Olympic medalist Raj Bhavsar was in the capital on Monday to explore how he can contribute to the growth of gymnastics in India with an eye on next year's Commonwealth Games.

An artistic gymnast with roots in Gujarat, Bhavsar was part of the American team that won bronze medal in the Beijing Olympics.

During his India trip, Bhavsar met members of the Gymnastics Federation of India, the Sports Ministry and the Commonwealth Games organizing committee to find out if there could be any role for him in the country's preparation for 2010 Commonwealth Games.

A member of the 2001 and 2003 world champion American teams, Bhavsar will also visit the gymnastics facility in Allahabad on Tuesday, according to a release here