The New Delhi Govt. has been highly critised in the media for dragging it feet on the development of Delhi Infrastructure for the recent Commonwealth Games 2010 to be held at Delhi and the constant criticism has finally woken up the Kumbhkarana.
"We are now constantly monitoring the progress of 120 infrastructure projects so as to complete them by April next year," a senior official involved in overseeing preparations for the prestigious sporting event said.
He said all the projects are on track and progressing well. "We are doing it silently. Everything will be ready well ahead of time. There is no need for any concern." Hear!! Hear!!!
He said the under-construction flyover leading to the airport will be ready by early next year.
Asked whether there will be a problem of accommodation for visitors to the national capital as developers have withdrawn from a few hotel projects, he said Haryana has decided to seize the opportunity and are working on developing guest houses and hotels.
"An alternative plan has been worked out with the Haryana government to sort out the problem of accommodation for the visitors," he said.
Delhi's loss will be Haryana's gain!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Finally Delhi Govt gets its Act Together
Apparently, security planning for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi is on track and concerns that safety fears could scupper the event are premature, the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF).
Security around the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, due to be held from Oct. 3-14, 2010 has come under scrutiny after an attack in Mumbai in November that killed at least 171 people and this month's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan.
It is widely anticipated that the Pakistan based terrorists will try to attack the Games.
According to The Official site the countdown has begun for the Commonwealth Games, and they have prepared a special baton called the queen's baton.
I hope that the Delhi Government gets its act together and prevents any untoward event during the commonwealth games in Delhi.
Security around the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, due to be held from Oct. 3-14, 2010 has come under scrutiny after an attack in Mumbai in November that killed at least 171 people and this month's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Pakistan.
It is widely anticipated that the Pakistan based terrorists will try to attack the Games.
According to The Official site the countdown has begun for the Commonwealth Games, and they have prepared a special baton called the queen's baton.
The prototype of the Queen’s Baton will be unveiled by Lt. Governor of Delhi, Shri Tejendra Khanna. The Queen’s Baton has been specially designed in a manner which is unique since it represents not only the diversity of India but also the participation of every Indian through the soil of each state of India which has been embedded on the Baton. The Baton, represents the resilient spirit of Indians, and their Prowess, in the field of technology and IT which also finds place in the Baton as it is designed to contain,
# GPS to track the Baton Movements when it travels
# Video Camera with Sound Recorder
# SMS Facility (affording instant interaction with the public)
# LED lights that will illuminate the colour of the flag of each of the 71 Commonwealth Nations through which it travels through
# Inbuilt Camera, Sound Recording Facility
# And very importantly a Gold leaf which the Queen’s Message will be inscribed on with micro calligraphy.
I hope that the Delhi Government gets its act together and prevents any untoward event during the commonwealth games in Delhi.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Commonwealth Plans Stolen from Police Station!
NEW Delhi's Commonwealth Games security plans have been stolen, plunging the event into further disarray.
Computers containing sensitive security information were stolen from the office of Delhi Police's Joint-Commissioner.
The theft is all the more embarrassing because the police compound housing the commissioner's office rarely has fewer than 500 officers in it.
Up to 100,000 people are expected to attend the Games, but organisers say there is a predicted shortfall of at least 14,000 hotel rooms.
New Delhi officials have approved the construction of 39 hotels in New Delhi, but work has started on only 19 so far.
It has led India to consider a New Delhi bed and breakfast scheme, with more than 300 homes and 800 rooms registered for guests in the past 18 months.
According to Joint-Commissioner JK Sharma's staff, five computer monitors and three central programming units were missing when the offices opened yesterday.
Joint-Commissioner Sharma said: "We have reported the matter to Malviya Nagar police station. Their officers have visited the office."
The computers reportedly stored important information concerning several Games projects, and had details of security plans for the Games.
The incident is yet another blow for the embattled Commonwealth Games, to be held in New Delhi from October 3-14 next year. That the security measures for commonwealth games in Delhi are lax, is exposed by the robbery of computers from a Police station.
Some Indian politicians and former athletes are deeply concerned over the lack of progress at several of the Games venues.
The loss of the security plans follows November's Mumbai terrorist atrocities and last week's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan.
It is believed thieves broke in through a window to steal the computers.
Sri Lankan cricket coach Trevor Bayliss, a New South Welshman, has warned sports authorities on the subcontinent to be doubly careful.
"There are questions to be asked by the governing bodies of all sports," Bayliss told Indian media. "If cricket, which is the No. 1 sport on the subcontinent, can get hit, then any sport can . . . and especially any big sporting tournament."
Bayliss' concerns came as Games organisers said foreign visitors to New Delhi next year might be housed privately.
With lax security comes the possiblity of an Al-Queda attack on the Commonwealth games Venue, this I have discussed in a previous post.
Computers containing sensitive security information were stolen from the office of Delhi Police's Joint-Commissioner.
The theft is all the more embarrassing because the police compound housing the commissioner's office rarely has fewer than 500 officers in it.
Up to 100,000 people are expected to attend the Games, but organisers say there is a predicted shortfall of at least 14,000 hotel rooms.
New Delhi officials have approved the construction of 39 hotels in New Delhi, but work has started on only 19 so far.
It has led India to consider a New Delhi bed and breakfast scheme, with more than 300 homes and 800 rooms registered for guests in the past 18 months.
According to Joint-Commissioner JK Sharma's staff, five computer monitors and three central programming units were missing when the offices opened yesterday.
Joint-Commissioner Sharma said: "We have reported the matter to Malviya Nagar police station. Their officers have visited the office."
The computers reportedly stored important information concerning several Games projects, and had details of security plans for the Games.
The incident is yet another blow for the embattled Commonwealth Games, to be held in New Delhi from October 3-14 next year. That the security measures for commonwealth games in Delhi are lax, is exposed by the robbery of computers from a Police station.
Some Indian politicians and former athletes are deeply concerned over the lack of progress at several of the Games venues.
The loss of the security plans follows November's Mumbai terrorist atrocities and last week's attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore, Pakistan.
It is believed thieves broke in through a window to steal the computers.
Sri Lankan cricket coach Trevor Bayliss, a New South Welshman, has warned sports authorities on the subcontinent to be doubly careful.
"There are questions to be asked by the governing bodies of all sports," Bayliss told Indian media. "If cricket, which is the No. 1 sport on the subcontinent, can get hit, then any sport can . . . and especially any big sporting tournament."
Bayliss' concerns came as Games organisers said foreign visitors to New Delhi next year might be housed privately.
With lax security comes the possiblity of an Al-Queda attack on the Commonwealth games Venue, this I have discussed in a previous post.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Security Measures for Delhi Commonwealth Games
I wrote about the possibility of Al- Queda attack on the venues of Commonwealth Games in Delhi in a previous post. Looks like, my conjecture was spot on.
Apparaently, the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi will adopt security methods similar to those used at last year's Beijing Olympics. the chief of Commonwealth Games said on Wednesday, allaying fears the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team could scupper the event.
Speculation about the fate of the Games, due to be held in New Delhi, has intensified since last year's attacks in Mumbai and Tuesday's bloody ambush in Lahore which left six players and a coach wounded and eight people dead.
A number of Australian athletes -- the top team in the games -- have already expressed reservations about competing in India, with former swimming champion Dawn Fraser even calling for the event to be moved.
"We don't want another Munich," Fraser said, referring to the deadly attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. "With an attack like that you wouldn't be sending any team over to that region at all. You wouldn't be sending any away in this climate."
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chiefs held a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, where security was elaborately discussed, organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.
"We're working on security, it has always been an issue with us from the beginning," he told Reuters on Wednesday.
"The Pune (2008 Commonwealth Youth Games) security was also an issue and everything went off well.
"We're tying up things, with a lot of CCTV's etc. We're using very modern methods which were also used in Beijing (Olympics) last year.
"A lot of things are moving ahead as this is our number one concern," he said. "We're monitoring it on a day-to-day basis."
The CGF security chief had also visited India and discussed security details with the Delhi police and interior ministry officials, he added.
AUSTRALIA BACKING
Earlier, a top Australian sports official gave his backing to keeping the Games in India despite growing concerns over security.
Perry Crosswhite, the president of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said the CGF had called a teleconference to discuss the latest incident but there were no plans to relocate the Games.
"At this stage, the Games are on at Delhi 2010 and we have no reason to believe that they won't take place," Crosswhite told reporters on Wednesday.
"Like everyone else I am shocked that they attacked a sporting team, and Pakistan cricket is so popular, for terrorists to do this is almost unheard of.
"We are not saying the Games are going to be cancelled."
More than 4,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete in 17 sports at the New Delhi Games, making it the biggest sporting event held in India.
Among the athletes likely to compete at New Delhi are Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice and British cyclist Chris Hoy, who each won three gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics.
Crosswhite said India was planning a massive security operation for the Commonwealth Games but he could understand why some athletes may still be hesitant to go.
"I don't think anyone can guarantee anybody's safety any more," he said.
"If we did feel that those security issues were beyond an acceptable level we would have no hesitation in making our views known to the athletes.
"It is up to the athletes whether they go or not. We won't force them to go."
Kalmadi said security perception had gone up after the Mumbai attacks in November which killed about 170 people.
"We've beefed up security after the Mumbai attacks and we didn't need lessons from the Lahore attack."
"After Mumbai we've taken all steps on security. We'll have our next meeting in May by when the full plan will be ready."
"I'd like to assure participating countries that security will be our concern. We'll definitely look after all aspects."
If the Delhi Commonwealth Games were to be called off that would be huge economic blow to the New Delhi Bed and Breakfast and Delhi Hotels that are coming up especially for the Commonwealth games.
We all hope that the Government will get their act together and is able to provide tight security for the event.
Apparaently, the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi will adopt security methods similar to those used at last year's Beijing Olympics. the chief of Commonwealth Games said on Wednesday, allaying fears the attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team could scupper the event.
Speculation about the fate of the Games, due to be held in New Delhi, has intensified since last year's attacks in Mumbai and Tuesday's bloody ambush in Lahore which left six players and a coach wounded and eight people dead.
A number of Australian athletes -- the top team in the games -- have already expressed reservations about competing in India, with former swimming champion Dawn Fraser even calling for the event to be moved.
"We don't want another Munich," Fraser said, referring to the deadly attacks on Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics. "With an attack like that you wouldn't be sending any team over to that region at all. You wouldn't be sending any away in this climate."
The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chiefs held a meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, where security was elaborately discussed, organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi said.
"We're working on security, it has always been an issue with us from the beginning," he told Reuters on Wednesday.
"The Pune (2008 Commonwealth Youth Games) security was also an issue and everything went off well.
"We're tying up things, with a lot of CCTV's etc. We're using very modern methods which were also used in Beijing (Olympics) last year.
"A lot of things are moving ahead as this is our number one concern," he said. "We're monitoring it on a day-to-day basis."
The CGF security chief had also visited India and discussed security details with the Delhi police and interior ministry officials, he added.
AUSTRALIA BACKING
Earlier, a top Australian sports official gave his backing to keeping the Games in India despite growing concerns over security.
Perry Crosswhite, the president of the Australian Commonwealth Games Association, said the CGF had called a teleconference to discuss the latest incident but there were no plans to relocate the Games.
"At this stage, the Games are on at Delhi 2010 and we have no reason to believe that they won't take place," Crosswhite told reporters on Wednesday.
"Like everyone else I am shocked that they attacked a sporting team, and Pakistan cricket is so popular, for terrorists to do this is almost unheard of.
"We are not saying the Games are going to be cancelled."
More than 4,000 athletes from over 50 countries are expected to compete in 17 sports at the New Delhi Games, making it the biggest sporting event held in India.
Among the athletes likely to compete at New Delhi are Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Australian swimmer Stephanie Rice and British cyclist Chris Hoy, who each won three gold medals at last year's Beijing Olympics.
Crosswhite said India was planning a massive security operation for the Commonwealth Games but he could understand why some athletes may still be hesitant to go.
"I don't think anyone can guarantee anybody's safety any more," he said.
"If we did feel that those security issues were beyond an acceptable level we would have no hesitation in making our views known to the athletes.
"It is up to the athletes whether they go or not. We won't force them to go."
Kalmadi said security perception had gone up after the Mumbai attacks in November which killed about 170 people.
"We've beefed up security after the Mumbai attacks and we didn't need lessons from the Lahore attack."
"After Mumbai we've taken all steps on security. We'll have our next meeting in May by when the full plan will be ready."
"I'd like to assure participating countries that security will be our concern. We'll definitely look after all aspects."
If the Delhi Commonwealth Games were to be called off that would be huge economic blow to the New Delhi Bed and Breakfast and Delhi Hotels that are coming up especially for the Commonwealth games.
We all hope that the Government will get their act together and is able to provide tight security for the event.
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