New Delhi:
The deluge of concern and criticism from both outside and within the country over Delhi's preparedness for next year's Commonwealth Games has the organisers scrambling to allay fears.
One such effort was made on Thursday when representatives of nations participating in the Commonwealth Games were taken on a visit to some of the games venues, where they were briefed on security measures and the progress on construction.
The inspection came at the end of a two-day conference called to allay fears about the level of security available for visiting athletes and officials at the Games, to be held in October 2010. Several countries have expressed concern over security and the slow progress of construction at the games venues.
Thursday's visits included inspection of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the National Stadium and the Games Village. The 76 security delegates have come in from 26 of the participating countries.
On Wednesday, organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said nearly 90000 security personnel and 2000 CCTV cameras would be deployed to protect venues and participants during the games. He said these would be coordinated by the Delhi Police from a special year control room. The Indian Air Force too would be called in for aerial surveillance over the National Capital Region.
Roads, Kalmadi said, would also have special corridors for players and delegates. In fact, standby commando units would be posted on all routes that players would take.
Kalmadi said the site visits were being organized because, "In Hyderabad, one team pulled out of the badminton championships over security concerns, We want to assure the world that everything is fine."
In the last few weeks, Kalmadi has had to explain the tardiness in preparations to even the Prime Minister, after the Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennell wrote a strongly-worded letter, seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to avert a "partial failure" of the Games.
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has promised that her government will work in tandem with the organising committee to make the Games a success.
Over a lakh visitors and 8000 players are expected in Delhi for the Games next year. Despite the question marks on arrangements at several venues, organisers are putting up a brave front for now.