Deadlines missed, but officials still not serious
Even as they are fighting a race against time to meet the Commonwealth Games project deadlines, which have already been pushed back, the authorities concerned with these projects themselves do not seem to be taking them seriously.
For instance, in the case of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the opening and closing ceremonies would be held apart from some other events, the deadline had to be extended twice due to last minute additionalities like the underground tunnel and the aerostat and the new deadline was July 31.
The CPWD is practically done with the work related to the underground tunnel — from where the athletes would come up on the ground — and has also laid the foundation for anchoring the cables of the aerostat.
However, the organising committee of the Commonwealth Games does not seem to be in a hurry to install the aerostat — a spectacular lighting arrangement — well in time.
A spokesperson for the OC said that the aerostat, being delivered by an Italian firm which was given the order without any tendering process, will be installed a few days before the actual event begins.
The spokesperson even denied knowledge that the CPWD was supposed to lay the foundation for the aerostat.
Talking to this newspaper, however, CPWD director general V.K. Chugh said that the foundation work has been completed. Another CPWD official said that the agency would be “out of the stadium” by July end and, barring some greening work and beautifying the approach roads, some of which is with other agencies like the MCD, the work in the stadium would be complete.
Earlier this month, Mr Chugh had said that due to the added task of giving a foundation deep and strong enough to anchor the helium-filled aerostat and the underground tunnel, the project got delayed by well over five months.
On the other hand, the reported under-preparedness of a large number of DDA flats at Vasant Kunj, which were supposed to provide nearly 5,000 rooms for accommodating delegated and tourists, is giving sleepless nights to the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC), which is supposed to furnish them.
“The bookings are coming. It will have to be seen as to how many flats DDA is able to get ready in time,” said a senior ITDC official. The issue will be taken up at the review meeting of tourism ministry’s task force on Thursday next week.
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