Gill says Nehru, Talkatora stadia would be engineering marvels

Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports M.S. Gill reviews the progress of construction work of the SPM Swimming Pool Complex at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on October 26, 2009.

Union Sports Minister M S Gill today said that the Jawaharlal Nehru and Talkatora stadia in the capital, two of the venues for the Commonwealth Games which Delhi is scheduled to host in October 2010, would be technology and engineering marvels.

Talking to reporters after inspecting the progress on construction and renovation works being carried out at the two stadia, Dr Gill said the entire work would be completed on time. He also assured that there would be enough time to hold the test events before the Games.

"Engineers and all others are fully motivated towards the timely completion of the work," Dr Gill said.

The Minister's visit to the two venues came as there was growing concern about the progress of work so far on the Games venues in Delhi and doubts being raised about whether they would be ready in time for the prestigious event.

Dr Gill was accompanied by senior officials of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI), who briefed him about the progress.

"I came here to see preparations and also had thorough discussions with the SAI officials and the CPWD engineers. I can assure you that these two stadiums will be technology and engineering marvels," he said.

A view of construction work of the SPM Swimming Pool Complex at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on October 26, 2009.

"For Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, we have experts from Germany, America and South America. Roof fabrication for the stadium has been done from Mexico. For the swimming pool complex, experts from Germany, France, Belgium, Australia and from India are also involved in the working. We will produce a world class event," he said.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium will host the Opening and Closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games 2010 and will also have separate facilities for conducting Weightlifting and Lawn Bowling competitions.

According to an official statement the construction of the lower tier of the Nehru stadium and of the hostel building was completed. It said construction of the roof, along with the state-of-the-art sports lighting was under progress.

The statement said renovation and upgradation of the inner spaces of the stadium, installation of electrical sub-station, construction of the hall for weightlifting, synthetic surfaces for Lawn Bowl and construction of the boundary wall were in progress.

NNN