Delhi seeks Rs 1,000 crore more for CWG

Facing a fund crunch, the Delhi Government has sought an additional Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre to complete the key infrastructure projects related to next year's Commonwealth Games in the city.

"We have sought an additional amount of Rs 1,000 crore from the Centre for the Commonwealth Games projects," Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said.

Officials said the city Government's revenue collection fell by over Rs 400 crore in the first four months of the current fiscal, prompting it to make a request to the Centre for additional funds.

The issue figured in the Cabinet meeting on Monday which also discussed status of various ongoing projects related to the event.

At the meeting, Dikshit asked her ministerial colleagues to put in all their efforts to ensure timely completion of the projects.

The Delhi Government had reported a fall of over Rs 1,300 crore in tax revenue during the last fiscal also.

In view of the dip in tax collection, the Centre had granted a plan allocation of Rs 2,435.68 crore to it in the Union Budget, which was an increase of Rs 1,673 crore compared to last year.

The Delhi government, in its budget, had earmarked Rs 2,105 crore for 2009-10 for projects related to the Games.

Early this month, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh took stock of the ongoing projects at an hour-long meeting with Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Union Sports Minister M S Gill.

Commonwealth Games Federation delegates also inspected various facilities being developed for the event and expressed their satisfaction over the preparations.

With less than a year to go for the Delhi Games, the organisers and Delhi Government are in a race against time to complete the entire infrastructure related to the event scheduled from October 3-14 next year.