Nehru stadium to be ready by June: Gill

Sports Minister M S Gill today said the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, which is to stage the opening and closing ceremonies of the Commonwealth Games, will be ready by June.

Gill expressed his satisfaction after he inspected the 27-year-old Jawahar Lal Nehru stadium and which is under reconstruction.

''I am satisfied that the work is going smoothly, and there are no technical difficulties being faced. I have urged all involved, to complete the stadium, in early June. I have also directed the engineers to ensure, that the labour working with such dedication, are paid their full wages, and treated properly, by the ontractors,'' Gill said after the inspection.

The venue is way behind the schedule and the delay is primarily because of a 150-metre-long tunnel which is being constructed to connect the two ends of the stadium. The tunnel, which will open up at the centre, will be used by the performers to enter the ground during the ceremonies. Gill also had a detailed discussion with the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) engineers and contractors about the status of ongoing civil and electrical works in the complex.

He also inspected the roof work which is still under construction and said, ''I made a detailed inspection, followed by a discussion with the engineers and the contractors involved in the complex task of lifting the roof, and the other heavy fittings.''