Deadline for CWG practice venue extended

Barely three months to go for the Commonwealth Games, and the practice venue coming up at the Village is yet to be completed. The Delhi Development Authority (DDA), agency entrusted with the task of constructing the venue, says completion is still months away. Incidentally, the Village itself will only be handed over to the organizing committee in August.

Acknowledging the delay, senior DDA officials claimed the reason for the extended deadline was the slow pace of work that previous contractor had been maintaining. "Because the pace of work was so slow, we had to terminate the services of the contractor, and take over construction ourselves. This resulted in slight delay," added the source.

In November last year, the development authority had cancelled the contract of the company that had previously won the bid for construction of the practice venue. At that time, Sportina Payce Infrastructure had been removed for not complying with the terms of the agreement and for missing deadlines.

However, sources admitted that continued delay had sent alarm bells ringing, especially as the practice venue is being built specifically for the athletes who will be staying at the Village.

Sources in the OC claimed that overlays after handover would again take at least a couple of months, putting a tight schedule for completion of the work.

Interestingly, DDA officials claim that since the stadium is a "practice" venue, it is not bound by the stringent deadlines of the other venues. A fact that OC officials are not convinced about. Said a senior OC official, "After handover, there are several processes that would need to be followed to bring it (the venue) to international sporting standards. That takes time."

Moreover, the delay in laying the field of play (FOP) — which will be done by the same company chosen for other sporting venues — is leading to mounting expenses, claim DDA officials. The venue — for swimming, athletic track and weightlifting and wrestling in the indoor hall and fitness centre — is not expected to be completed before August-end/September.

The Village, meanwhile, will be handed over in August. While the 1,100-odd flats are apparently 'complete' according to officials of Emaar MGF, the consortium which has built the complex, DDA officials say, handover will take time.

"A number of support works like laying of sewer lines as well as internal roads is yet to be completed. This will take some time," said a senior DDA official. Incidentally, the original deadline for the Village was March 31, 2010.