Work on temporary structures behind time

Although every person related to the Commonwealth Games starting from the sports minister to the chief minister has promised that the Games will be a success and the venues will be completed well in time, the real picture is far from impressive.

Not only are most of the venues yet to be handed over to the Organising Committee, but also construction of temporary structures inside the venues are incomplete. In certain cases, even the designs submitted by the companies haven’t been approved by the OC. One of the architects working at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex feels that lack of communication between the OC and the venue owners has affected proceedings.

“While we submitted our plan well in advance, we can’t start our work because until and unless the venue owners hand over the venue to the OC, we can’t step in. Only after OC gets the venue can we start our work.

Communication has been a big hindrance. In some cases the plan submitted has also been changed in the eleventh hour causing further delay,” he told M AIL T ODAY . “ Although the construction of temporary structures like the athlete’s lounges, changing rooms, temporary toilets etc take around three to four weeks to be completed, the projects were started late in the first place.

While we were told that work at this stadium would start in the mid week of July and end by mid of August, work actually started just a few days back. We are two weeks behind schedule.” But he feels that the condition at other venues is worse.

“ I would still say that the condition here is far better. My colleagues at the Karni Singh Shooting Ranges are yet to start work. As long as the venue owners don’t hand over the ranges to the OC, all they can do is just visit the ranges and wait for the fateful day,” he said.

“ In some cases, even the plan proposed by the architect firms are waiting for approval.

If such is the pace, I fear it will be maddening rush at the last minute to finish the venues.”