Delhiites are beaming with pride and pleasure at the prospect of hosting the Commonwealth Games from October 3 to 14, 2010. These dates include the opening and closing ceremonies. India will be the third developing country to host the event after Jamaica in 1966 and Malaysia in 1998. These games are being held for the second time in Asia.
The city government is, therefore, gearing itself up to meet the challenge of holding the prestigious event. The Delhi chief minister Sheila Dixit held a meeting with her Cabinet colleagues to discuss the annual plan outlay for the year 2008-2009 and the issues relating to the organization of the mega event. The city will witness an influx of 1.5 lakh spectators besides the participants during the Commonwealth Games. Any lapse in the conduct of the great event may adversely hit India’s bid for 2016 Summer Olympics. The organization of the Commonwealth Games is a test of the Delhi government’s ability to hold international games events at such a grand scale.
The total plan outlay is expected to be Rs. 9,000 crore, out of which the government proposes to allocate Rs.2, 800 crore to the transport sector. This amount accounts for nearly 30% of the total outlay. Government’s main focus shall be on public transport. A major part of the Games budget, will be allocated to the replacement the ageing DTC fleet. There is also a proposal to spend RS 1,050 crore from the total plan outlay to building flyovers and over bridges to facilitate the traffic movement during the 2010 games.
Next to transport, the thrust area for the plan would be the provision of the essential civic amenities like roads, drains, water supply, sewerage, street lights, parks, sanitation services, health care and educational facilities in unauthorized colonies which will be regularized.
Work on the construction of hotels on the land auctioned by the DDA has already started. According to the sports minister Suresh Kalmadi, "The color, costumes, the traditions and heritage will be world class, the public will be welcoming and friendly and the flair of India is what will make the next Games really unique."