Click to play videoNew Delhi: Delegates from more than 70 countries will be in the Capital in a few days, to assess the progress being made in preparing for the Commonwealth Games 2010. The Organising Committee's own consultants have warned that work is behind schedule and concluded most deadlines would be missed.
In less than a year, world swimmers are to compete at the SP Mukherjee Aquatic complex, but work at the site is hardly finished.
Events Knowledge Services, a private consultant appointed by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee says the the pool and most other venues for the Games will over shoot their deadline by three months.
In fact, a four nation hockey tournament which is supposed to be a test event for the Games may not happen at the designated venue at all. It's an opinion being contested by the same authority which has hired the consultant.
"The venues will be ready on time and the test event will happen," said Secretary General of the Organising Committee, Lalit Bhanot.
The Organising Committee's bravado is being supplemented by shifting the goal-post. The Sports Ministry in fact has even been accused of downgrading the target of the desired planned progress to create an impression of better progress.
For instance, while the planned completion target for the SPM Aquatic Complex was 93 per cent in May, it was reduced to 46 per cent for June. Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium's athletics facilities - where the Opening Ceremony will be held as well - were targeted to be 75 per cent complete by May. In June it was revised to 61 per cent.
The target for weightlifting facilities at the stadium has been downgraded from 78 per cent to 64 per cent. And the target for Dhyan Chand Stadium for hockey was downgraded from 90 per cent to 78 per cent.
While the Sports Ministry may have chosen not to respond to why these intended targets were revised mid-way, the tardy progress of the work at the Games venues and facilities has been repeatedly pointed out over the past few months, including by government agencies.
The CAG in its report earlier this year had placed the aquatic complex at a very high risk and 13 other projects at a medium risk of failing the deadline.
It had also raised concerns over the pace of progress of roads and other infrastructure projects that are supposed to link the Games Village and 23 competition venues where sportsmen will compete in 17 different sports.
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