New Delhi, February 2009 :
The work on the major stadia being constructed for Commonwealth Games, 2010 namely Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, National Stadium, Dr. S.P. Mukherjee Swimming Complex, Thyagraj Stadium, Sri Fort Stadium, Yamuna Sports Complex and R.K. Khanna Tennis Stadium is progressing as per schedule. The Time Lines for the various venues against monitorable milestones have been drawn up. These are monitored on a Web-based Monitoring System developed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. The targeted date for completion of these civil and electrical works is 31st December, 2009 while targeted date for completion of the Games Village and the Cycling Vellodrome is 31st March, 2010. The civil and electrical work of Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Ranges will be completed by October, this year. Work is continuing at a rapid pace at all the venues. Adequate budgetary arrangements have been made and fund flows have been ensured so that the work can proceed smoothly.
The work related to the interiors and installation of overlays will also be completed well before the Games as per the international practice. It is the practice in all countries, where sports infrastructure for major multi-disciplinary sporting event is created, that the completion of the works is phased in such a manner, that the stadia ready with the overlays a month or so before the Games, and not very much before, otherwise the facilities would get run down and need heavy maintenance costs.
The Games Village, which will house the 8000 athletes and officials is being developed by DDA at a site near Akshardham Temple on a Public Private Partnership mode. 40 per cent of the work has already been completed for the 1168 flats, which will be coming up in 34 Towers. A PIL has been filed in the High Court raising environmental issues. However, no stay from any Court exists on the work being done on the site. The progress of work is extremely satisfactory at the Games Village and the targeted date for completion that is 31st March 2010 which will be achieved.
Regarding preparation of players for the Games, a major Scheme for Preparation of Indian Teams for Commonwealth Games has been approved by the Government, costing around Rs. 678 crores, and the implementation of this scheme has commenced in right earnest. Under this scheme, a set of Core Probables have been selected for each sports discipline, who will be provided continuous training and exposure, under top level coaches both Indian and Foreign, right up to the Games in order to get the best performance during the Games. In each sport, around 3 times the number of sports persons, who will actually represent India during the Games have been selected in the Core Group, taking into consideration the current level of performance of these athletes, and the scope for their improvement. A total of 424 athletes will represent India in the 18 disciplines of the Commonwealth Games. Against these, a total of 1286 athletes have been selected in the Core Group, who will be given intensive training with full medical and scientific back up in preparation for the Games. Out of these, athletes with the highest level of performance till the Games will be selected to represent India. In all the sports discipline except Cycling, the training camps in India and abroad have commenced. The top level Indian and Foreign Coaches have been selected. The Calendar of training and completion has been prepared and the Centres for their training in India and abroad have been identified. The Sports Authority of India Centre are being upgraded and equipped with the latest scientific and backup arrangements. In respect of Cycling, there being management dispute in the Federation, the programme has not become effective. The matter is being pursued with the IOA to identify the core probables and draw up the programme of training and completion.
Press Release