Everything ready for CWG: Delhi chief secretary

NEW DELHI - With only 17 days to go for the Commonwealth Games and delegates starting to arrive in the capital, a top Delhi official Thursday reiterated that everything was ready for the mega sporting event.

Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta told IANS that almost all the projects for the Games, including beautification and infrastructure-related, have been completed.

He said the elevated road built over the Barapullah drain to link the Commonwealth Games village in east Delhi to Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in south Delhi will be inaugurated within a week as trial runs are now being conducted on it. The road will be opened for the delegates and athletes in October and for the public after the Commonwealth Games.

Mehta said that proper arrangements have been made on the power front for the Oct 3-14 mega-event and generation from the 1,500 MW gas-based Bawana project will commence before the Games.

Delhi took up upgradation and beautification plans for the city ahead of the Games at a cost of Rs.16,000 crore (3.2 billion), many of which missed several deadlines. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit had promised all works will be completed by Wednesday, but it was not a deadline.