Commonwealth Games 2010 - a prestige issue of Delhi

In a bid to mark its presence on the world’sDelhi is also trying to get rid of some of its most
sporting stage, India bid and won the right to hostperennial problems. It is increasing it power
the common wealth games in 2010. This will begeneration capacity to deal with chronic power
the largest sporting event hosted by Delhi till date,shortages, and widening roads, constructing
and has therefore become something of aflyovers and bridges to end jams on its arterial
prestige issue for the government.roads.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games is also markedThere have been some concerns in the media
by the fact that it will be the costliestthat the preparations for the games would not be
Commonwealth Games ever with an estimatedcompleted in time, but in 2008 visiting
budget of 1.6billion dollars. The Delhi government is,Commonwealth Games Federation chief
predictably, working hard to complete all theexpressed his satisfaction with the progress in the
preparations before the games begin.preparations.
To improve travel and transportation facilityThe Commonwealth Games are expected to give
before the Commonwealth Games 2010 thea boost to India’s tourism industry, but many
government has modernized its airport and iscomplain that the benefits do not justify the huge
currently in the process of modernizing theexpenditure.
railways station. It has also upgraded it busSome are also apprehensive about the security
terminal and introduced new and better buses.challenge that organizing an event on such a huge
It has made the Metro rail project corporationscale would entail especially for a terror attack
work overtime so that it is completed beforeprone country like India.
time. In recent months the pressure to completeThe population of the city is already large at
before the Commonwealth Games 2010 hasaround 15 million, the additional influx of tourists
resulted in several disasters on the Metro siteduring the Commonwealth Games is expected to
also.put a stain on the already strained infrastructure
The Commonwealth Games are scheduled toof the city.
begin at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, but a hugeThe apex committee for the conduct of the
village called the Commonwealth Games Village isCommonwealth Games would be headed by
coming up on the banks of the river Yamuna. TheIndia’s sport’s minister, while the
games village will house not only the gamesorganizing committee would be headed by the
stadium but the quarters for the athletes too.Indian Olympics President Suresh Kalmadi.
While preparing for the Commonwealth Games,