The Group of Ministers (GoM) on Commonwealth Games (CWG) today asked the Organising Committee to finish pending work at venues by the end of this month.
The GoM, formed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and headed by Union Urban Development Minister S Jaipal Reddy, called a meeting today and took a detailed feedback on the deficiencies still existing at the venues.
Besides Reddy, the meeting was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, Union Minister for Housing Kumari Selja, Sports Secretary Sindhushree Khullar and Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, among others.
Earlier this week, Organising Committee Vice-Chairman Randhir Singh had taken stock of the preparations and assured that everything would be ready by August 25. Commonwealth Games Federation President Michael Fennel had also expressed concern over the unfinished work at venues with just over a month away from the Games, to be held between October 3 and 14.
The GoM has also asked the defence ministry to provide security for the event. “I have written to the defence ministry asking it to provide the services of Army free of cost to assist in the security arrangements for CWG,” added Reddy.
The GoM meet also decided that testing of various equipment and networks to be installed for the Games would start from September 1.
“The network and technology that are to be installed will be done by August 31. The Prasar Bharati will start test broadcasting from September 1,” said Sports and Youth Affairs Secretary Sindhushree Khullar.
The GoM will hold its next meeting on August 26 to evaluate the progress ahead of the important event.
Khullar also mentioned that the Organising Committee would hand over 1,600 apartments in Vasant Kunj area to them by September 10. The Delhi Development Authority was supposed to provide 3,000 apartments in the area initially.
