Gearing up for Games Village
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24/03/2008
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Hindu
Complex includes a host of features; 4 per cent work already completed While environmental activists are continuing with their protest against the construction of the Commonwealth Games Village on the banks of the Yamuna and the matter is pending in Delhi High Court, almost 4 per cent work on the project has already been completed. For the Games, 12 health posts would be set up in the city, a hospital would be established in the Games Village and a separate ambulance service would also be provided. Streetlight up-gradation would be taken up at the Games Village and a fire station would also be constructed there. The Games Village will also have its own 1 MGD each sewage and water treatment plants, land for which has been obtained by the Delhi Jal Board from the Delhi Development Authority. In the written reply to a question by Badarpur MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri in the Delhi Assembly this past week, Development Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan said for the conduct of the Games in 2010 a sum of Rs. 1,352 crore had been earmarked. Of this, the Planning Commission has approved Rs. 770 crore and the Delhi Government would be spending Rs. 582 crore. To ensure that the Games are conducted successfully and all preparations are in place, the Delhi Government has put a time line to all related works. Also, the Chief Secretary has already convened nine meetings of the empowered committee of all the officials concerned to review the progress of various projects. Besides, the Minister said, two meetings each of the sub-committee have been convened under the chairmanship of Lieutenant-Governor and the Chief Minister respectively. The Delhi Government would be constructing two new stadiums for the Games. One would be the Tyagaraja Indoor Stadium at Tyagaraja Nagar that is being constructed by the Public Works Department and would host netball competitions. The Talkatora Stadium is being renovated by the New Delhi Municipal Council for the boxing competitions and 7 per cent work has been completed. The Shivaji Stadium would also be upgraded by NDMC. The DDA would be creating facilities for badminton and squash at the Siri Fort Sports Complex. It would also construct an indoor stadium at the Yamuna Sports Complex for archery competition. As new additions, the up-gradation of Chhatrasal Stadium and Ludlow Castle as training venues has also been proposed. The city would get a new look due to the Games, as 50 mechanical sweepers, fancy dustbins and fluorescent overcoats for workers would be procured. For bringing public transport up to international standards by the time of the Games, the Government would be purchasing 200 new modern air-conditioned buses for the movement of participants, managers and officers. Another 800 buses would be used for "shuttle' and "park and ride' service.