PM to visit Games’ sites soon

NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the Commonwealth Games sites “very soon”, an official at the Prime Minister’s Office said here Saturday.

“He will visit the site very soon,” the official told IANS. He, however, refused to confirm the date.

The official said the prime minister had expressed his wish to visit the sites when he chaired the meeting of ministers and senior officials Aug 14 — just 50 days before the Oct 3-14 mega events.

“He had warned (Suresh) Kalmadi that he would be visiting the sites,” the official added.

The official added that the visit could be any day now.

The prime minister intervened in the preparations following delays and corruption allegations in the biggest sporting event being organised in India since the 1982 Asiad.

During his meeting, he issued clear instructions that the facilities for the Commonwealth Games should be made ready in time and meet international standards as the “eyes of the world” were on the country.

The prime minister had observed slippages in the time schedules of some of the construction works and deficiencies and had directed ministries concerned to conduct thorough investigations into all the complaints that have been received of procedural and other irregularities.