India's largest indoor arena inaugurated in Delhi

Sports minister MS Gill was cheerful at the inauguration of the renovated Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the gymnastics venue for the Commonwealth Games, and took the opportunity to reiterate the promise of delivering the best games.

“Through the Commonwealth Games, Delhi will show to the world that it is far modern than others. It will surprise visitors from all over the world. We are a young India and we will deliver the best games,” Gill said after he inaugurated the largest indoor venue in the country along with Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit.

The venue, reconstructed at a cost of Rs240 crore, has a built-up area of 72,425 square metres and can seat 14,500 persons. It is equipped with several green-building features and water conservation features and will be under constant electronic surveillance through fixed and PTZ cameras. “This is an outstanding stadium and a remarkable engineering marvel. It is equipped with all the modern facilities and is the largest covered and air-conditioned stadium in India,” Gill added.

Organising committee chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, said it was a dream come true. “When the participants come to India for Commonwealth test events they will themselves find stadium above their expectations. Every infrastructure is of global standards. All the 71 participating nations will find the preparations satisfactory,” said Kalmadi.