New Delhi:
Sports Minister MS Gill on Monday inspected the Indira Gandhi Indoor stadium here and said once completed, the 2010 Commonwealth Games venue would be at par with the stadiums seen during the Beijing Olympics last year.
On an hour-long visit, Gill held discussions with the Sports Authority of India officials and CPWD engineers, and reviewed the preparations at the stadium where Gymnastics, Cycling and Wrestling competitions would be held during the October 3 to 14 event next year.
The minister took a round of the main Gymnasium and the Cycling Velodrome at the site.
Expressing satisfaction with the pace of work, Gill praised the engineers' effort.
"I have seen the stadium where we will have cycling, wrestling and gymnastics. The stadium is a mighty complex and a technological marvel. Once completed, it will be no less then the stadiums seen during the Beijing Olympics last year," said Gill after inspecting the stadium.
"SAI and CPWD people are doing a great job in building the stadium despite the earlier time loss. It's an impressive stadium shaping up greatly. SAI, CPWD and their teams are doing a great job. I compliment them for the dedication they have shown in last one year," Gill added.
The stadium, spread over 80 acre, is being built at a cost of Rs 675 crore. The stadium, with a capacity of around 25,000, is scheduled to be completed in March.
Gill said there construction work for the cycling Velodrome which started only in January this year has been considerably completed.
"You can look at the progress from January till today. It's been only a year and work done by people involved is great. People should be little more patient and give time. They (SAI and CPWD) are highly trained people and work will be completed on as per scheduled," Gill said.
"We signed the accord for organising the Games in 2003 in West Indies and in these six years, we have done a lot and are committed to do so. Most of the work of the stadium would be completed by December end or by February," he added.
The seating capacity of the various halls inside the stadium has been upgraded. Gymnastics will have 16,000 capacity hall, the wrestling hall will be able to accommodate 7,500 people, while the Cycling Velodrome would a 3,800 seating capacity.