All projects for 2010 Delhi Games on time: Kalmadi

New Delhi, May 14 (UNI) Promising to stage ''the best ever'' Commonwealth Games, 2010 Delhi Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi today said all the projects for the mega event were on time.

Addressing the second meeting of the Commonwealth Games Federation Coordination Commission here, Mr Kalmadi said infrastructure projects for the mega event were on schedule and with the approval of the budgets of various stakeholders by the Government of India, Delhi is on course to stage a state-of-the-art Games.

''All the projects are on schedule and between the first meeting of CGF Coordination Commission and today, the Centre has cleared the budget of major stakeholders involved in the Games,'' he said.

He informed that Central Government has cleared Rs 767 crore for the holding of the Games with the flexibility of sanction escalation of 15 per cent, another Rs 1000 crore for infrastructure projects and Rs 770 crores to Delhi Government for improvement of civic amenities of the capital, besides Rs 260 crore approved by Ministry of Home Affairs for providing security for the Games.

Mr Kalmadi said construction work of the venues will start in July-August this year and will be over by December 2009 at the latest.

He also said that some top level international tournaments will be staged in these venues before 2010 to test the facilities.

''From December 2009 to June 2010 top level competitions will be held which will serve to test the facilities. World Badminton Championship will be staged in June 2009. Delhi will also host Indian Grand Prix Athletics and Hockey World Cup in 2010,'' he informed.

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister and OC Vice-President Priyaranjan Dasmunsi promised all help from the Government.

''On behalf of the Central Government and the Prime Minister, I assure you all the help to ensure the best ever Games in Delhi,'' he said.

CGF Coordination Commission chairman Austin Sealy while appreciating the progress made so far in the preparation, said the Delhi Games Organising Committee should ensure the proper coordination of the various agencies.

''Coordination of the various agencies is very important and we are also looking forward to see the most successful Games in Delhi in 2010,'' he said.

The opening session of the three-day meeting was attended by CGF Vice-President Bruce Robertson, CGF CEO Mike Hooper, CGF Legal Adviser Sharad Rao, DDA vice-chairman Dinesh Rai, Delhi Chief Secretary Ramesh Narayanaswami , Athletics Federation of India General Secretary Lalit Bhanot, senior IOA officials K P Singh Deo and Digvijay Singh.

UNI