CWG: Construction cost of five stadia crossed over Rs 1000 cr

An RTI reply has revealed that the cost of construction of five Commonwealth Games venues by Central Public Works Department (CPWD) escalated by over Rs 1,110 crore than the original sanctioned amount.

Besides, over Rs 20 crore were spent on installing closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in three other stadiums, developed by Public Works Department, in the national capital.

The CPWD had renovated Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex, Indira Gandhi Stadium Complex, Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Swimming Pool Complex, Major Dhyanchand National Stadium and Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range for the CWG held in New Delhi between October 3 and 14, 2010.

A total of Rs 42 crore was spent on taking consultancy services.

"A consolidated sum of Rs 1,000 crore (plus or minus 10 per cent) was sanctioned for these stadiums initially. No stadium-wise cost was approved. Later, a revised sanction for Rs 2,460 crore was accorded by Cabinet," the CPWD said in an RTI reply.

The money allocation was proposed by the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee, Sports Authority of India and Ministry of Youths Affairs and Sports, it said in reply to the RTI filed by Vivek Garg.

Interestingly, an amount of Rs 345.12 crore still remains unutilised by the construction agency.

The PWD spent Rs 396.06 crore in construction of Thyagraj Sports Complex (spread in 65,544 square metre) Chhatrasal Stadium (57,465 sq m) and Ludlow Castle Wrestling Training Venues (17,766 sq m), which include Rs 20.14 crore on CCTV cameras and Rs 5.81 crore as consultancy charges, the reply said.

About 11 venues were renovated by different civic and construction agencies like CPWD, PWD, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Delhi Development Authority for the mega sporting event.

Besides, the DDA developed the Commonwealth Games Village in over 63.5 hectares area that includes residential complexes, huge practice and a recreational area near Akshardham temple in east Delhi.

The Central Vigilance Commission, apex anti-corruption body, is enquiring into financial and administrative irregularities in several Games-related projects.

CBI has also registered three FIRs in connection with alleged irregularities in the Games, and questioned OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot among others. It has also asked OC chief Suresh Kalmadi to appear before it for questioning in connection with the alleged scam.