New Delhi:
In just a little over a year from now the capital will kick off the Commonwealth Games. However, a confidential report of the CAG -- an exclusive copy of which is with NDTV -- warns that many projects are lagging behind.
According to the plan the swimmers should be able to hold a competition at the Talkatora complex next month, but just 20 days before it was initially scheduled to be completed, the SPM aquatics complex near Talkatora looks anything but ready.
This is also the place where the Commonwealth swimming competition is to be held in 13 months.
The situation is serious. According to a confidential report prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) which was released in July this year, just 42 per cent of the work had been completed till June.
According to the CAG report this venue is in the high risk category, which means that it may not be complete in time. Also, there are 13 other projects which are in the medium risk, which means that they may not be fully complete when the Games begin.
At the Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium which is going to host the athletics and weightlifting competitions, just 49 per cent of the work was complete.
At the Indira Gandhi stadium, which is to host cycling, gymnastics and wrestling, just 43 per cent of the work has been done.
Also, at the Yamuna Sports Complex where archery and table tennis is to be held, the work is just 26 per cent complete.
And that's not all, the country is spending about Rs 80,000 crore to build new roads, flyovers and an airport terminal in the capital for the Games. But here too, there is a delay.
Of the 35 flyover and bridge projects, six projects which had not started have been delinked from the Games project; six others have been completed, but 23 projects are running behind schedule.
India had, in 2003, signed a contract with the Commonwealth Games Federation to hold the Games in the country. So clearly a lot is riding on the ability of the organisers to deliver.
"It is always being said that the work is lagging behind," said M S Gill, Minister of Youth and Sports.
"There are issues, but the Games are important for the country also. And efforts and steps will be under taken to complete the work in time," Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit said.
With more than 8000 athletes and one lakh international visitors expected for the Commonwealth Games, they are the largest ever multi-sport event the country has ever hosted. But unless the organisers can pick up the pace it will be a very different legacy that they will leave behind.