Pride at stake but Delhi not ready for 2010 games

New Delhi: The national capital is not prepared for hosting the Commonwealth Games in 2010, a parliament committee has said.

The games would give India the chance to prove that it is capable of organising a world-class sporting event, but there have been persistent doubts whether the infrastructure is ready in Delhi.

A Parliament Standing Committee headed by CPI-M Rajya Sabha MP Sitaram Yechury says the biggest hurdle would be adequate infrastructure for guests for the games.

The committee says the Delhi government submitted proposals for expanding infrastructure to the Tourism Ministry only in November 2008.

The committee has expressed grave doubts over whether Delhi Development Authority, the government agency responsible for building infrastructure for the games, can speed up allotting sites for new hotels. Of the 39 additional hotels envisaged, work is only on in 19 sites.

The Delhi government has not made any proposal to the Union Tourism Ministry for developing infrastructure, hosting guests and renovating tourism sites, said Yechury, chairman of the standing committee on transport, tourism and culture.

The committee, in a report, said the Tourism Ministry had funds for the Games. "Since the 2010 Games are drawing near, so many projects have yet to be initiated, let alone completed. In such a situation, absence of any proposal from Delhi surprised the committee," the panel noted.

"There are a large number of civic and other agencies like DDA, CPWD, MCD, NDMC, ASI, Delhi Jal Board engaged in the task but there is an absence of a coordinating mechanism," said Yechury.

Tourism Minister Ambika Soni rejected fears that Delhi would not be able to accommodate guests and assured that were would be hotels by 2010.

Commonwealth Games organisers are under pressure because of delays in several projects for the games, which are scheduled to take place from October 3-14 next year, reports Reuters.

India has requested a postponement of this year's Commonwealth boxing championships because the venue, being built for the games may not be ready in time. Construction delays also forced this year's world badminton championships to be moved to Hyderabad

The government, in its interim budget for 2009-10, has allocated Rs 964.42 crore for the games. The money would be used to renovate stadiums and venues, improve players’ training and for other purposes.