Transfers in DDA may affect Commonwealth Games work

Months before the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) was to complete the two Commonwealth Games complexes — Siri Fort and Yamuna Sports Complex — the land agency has transferred key officials of the project. Interestingly, it has also extended the internal deadline that had been set for completion, from March 31 to May 31 now.

While top DDA officials claimed the move was administrative, sources in the agency said the transfers couldn’t have come at a worse time. ‘‘The projects are at a critical state, and any new official who takes charge will need some time to understand the issues,’’ said a senior official. It’s especially critical for the Siri Fort Sports Complex, which will be hosting the Asia Badminton Championship in April. Sources said while the FOP (field of play) and playing courts have been completed at the squash and badminton stadium, a large part of the work still remains to be completed. This was supposed to have been finished by this month-end.

Sources said the reason why the officials were removed at both complexes was delay in work — a fact that is apparent from the extended deadline. However, officials working on the project maintain the current delay is a result of initial lack of initiative by top DDA brass in the early days of preparation. Said an official, ‘‘We had been given only 18 months for actual execution of the project, the schedule of which has been maintained throughout. The maximum delay had taken place during the planning phase.’’ It’s an accusation that DDA’s top brass refused to comment on when contacted. Site officials, meanwhile, claimed they were being held responsible for what the senior officials have effected.

Interestingly, the DDA V-C conducts a weekly monitoring of both Commonwealth Games projects while senior officials apparently keep a close daily watch.

Caught between the politics of the DDA administration are the sports complexes, which will now take longer to be completed. Earlier in March, DDA had inaugurated the archery stadium at the Yamuna Sports Complex, despite the fact that it is yet to be finished. Neither is the table-tennis stadium at the same venue nor the training courts are ready yet. It’s the same story at the Siri Fort Complex, where a large part of the work at the squash and badminton stadium is yet to be completed. The training areas are also still in the process of completion, while the swimming complex, which is the training venue for the Games, is not even 50% complete. The badminton test event, meanwhile, will be starting from April 12 at Siri Fort while the squash event has been postponed, said sources.