MiD DAY takes a bird's eye view of the preparations for the mega sporting event

Is Delhi game for Commonwealth?

MiD DAY takes a bird's eye view of the preparations for the mega sporting event

Event: Main lodging venue for athletes
Status: Approach roads are under construction, debris strewn all around, streetscaping still on. as it is Situated on the Yamuna riverbed, several cases of dengue have been reported from here.

2. Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Event: Opening and Closing Ceremonies
Status: Parking facility yet to be completed, ceiling collapsed due to heavy rains, yet to get clearances from various agencies, broadcast and security apparatus
still to be installed, streetscaping on.

3. Venue: Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium

Event: Gymnastics, Cycling
Status: Approach road and flyover construction still on near the stadium. acute waterlogging problem at several gates. boundary wall and overlay work pending.u00a0u00a0

4. Venue: RK Khanna Stadium

Event: Tennis
Status: International players have spoken out against the turf being used. Yet to get clearance from the fire department, streetscaping and road Re-construction still on near the stadium, debris strewn all around, finishing work to be completed.

5. Venue: Talkatora stadium

Event: Boxing
Status: Leakages reported from ceiling at several points, temporary construction work still on, work on approach roads yet to be completed, waterlogging a huge concern, training yet to commence.

6. Road to nowhere

Unprecedented rains have undone what little the city government had done on streetscaping and road upgradation. Several roads remain waterlogged and have caved in under pressure. The Games lane on city roads is causing bottlenecks. CM Sheila Dikshit has had a first-hand experience. pics/Imtiyaz Khan

House grouse
The city is still short of 25,000 rooms for the expected tourists who would descend on the national capital in the wake of the Commonwealth Games.u00a0 The main lodging facilities are the Commonwealth Games village near the Akshardham Temple in east Delhi and an apartment complex in Vasant Kunj. Both the facilities have been marred by the fear of imminent spread of dengue, as they remain waterlogged. Several hotels, budget and luxury, which were to be constructed and kept ready by this time, are yet to take final shape. The ambitious bed and breakfast scheme, under which guests getu00a0 breakfast and overnight lodging facilities in hotels, residences and motels, is facing criticism with almost zero bookings till now. Owners have complained that even those who have registered through agents are now backing out.
Rs 70,000 crore Expenditure on Games, so far
Rs 678 crore Expenditure on training of players
Rs 400 crore Expenditure on opening and closing ceremonies

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