Games work will be completed before deadline, says Sheila

Contractors urged to finish infrastructure works before monsoon arrival
Committees inspecting newly-installed streetlights found work below satisfaction
Heavy penalty to be imposed on companies that erred or delayed projects

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday reiterated that her government was well placed to complete all the infrastructure projects for the upcoming Commonwealth Games here well ahead of the deadline.

Talking to media persons, Ms. Dikshit said: “We will complete all the projects for the Games before the event gets under way on October 3. I will complete my responsibility before the event.''

The Chief Minister's statement assumes significance as doubts are being expressed in various quarters whether Delhi would be able to complete all the preparations before the event. With the rainy season due to start in about a month, the Government is also not taking any chances and is repeatedly urging the contractors to complete all the infrastructure works by June-end.

For the two-week event, the Delhi Government has budgeted an expenditure of nearly Rs.15,000 crore.

Ms. Dikshit also stated that the Delhi Government was yet to take a final decision on how to proceed with the probe against companies which have not performed the task of installing and maintaining the streetlights to the satisfaction of the Minister concerned.

Delhi Public Works Department Minister Rajkumar Chauhan had, following an inspection of the streetlights installed in South Delhi, warned that cases pertaining to three companies may be referred to the Central Vigilance Commissioner for alleged delay as well as for use of poor quality material.

The Minister had informed that two committees had also been formed for inspection of streetlights. During the inspection, Mr. Chauhan had found that some of the companies were not working properly and while streetlights had not been installed at some places, in others they were not functional. The Minister had then directed the Principal Secretary to impose heavy penalty on the erring companies for delay in work. He also issued directions to stop payment to these companies.

Delhi has undertaken an ambitious project of installation of streetlights of international standards along 424 km of roads at a cost of Rs.198 crore for the Games.

The Minister had informed that a total of 144 km roads were given to Bajaj company in M-1 zone and the work on 110 km roads is over. In the M-2 zone, which was given to Cashlek Shedder, work on 141 km out of a total of 144 km is over. And in the M-3 zone work on 125 km out of total 152 km of road had been completed by Spaceage company.

Mr. Chauhan had, during the inspection, reprimanded the superintendents of all the three companies and directed them to speedily complete the work. He had also lamented that faults were already being reported in some of the streetlights and stated that the quality of the material used by the companies would be checked.