A preview of things to come

Chaos on roads, worst-ever waterlogging, traffic snarls that lasted for hours. Will we be ready for the Games? HT reports.

The Commonwealth Games organisers fear that Delhi's infamous traffic snarls could play spoilsport during the event. The chairman of the CWG Federation, Michael Fennell, said congestion on the roads was a cause for concern.

HT Image

DND flyway affected

Traffic on DND Flyway from Noida to Delhi route was sent back for half an hour in view of traffic jams in Delhi on Thursday afternoon. "Around 12-15 p.m., Delhi-bound traffic was stopped at the toll plaza towards the Noida end and sent back. But the traffic from Delhi to Noida remained unaffected. Within half an hour, the route was opened as traffic jam in Delhi reduced," said a DND spokesperson.

Fennell said on Thursday, "I know there are lanes marked from Games-related traffic, but it is up to Delhi's people to respect that. I would want the support of the media and society at large."

Accompanied by officials, Fennell went to 17 Games venues across the city in the past two days amid torrential downpour and traffic jams.

With barely 44 days to go for the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Delhi got a preview of things to come. Chaos on roads, worst-ever waterlogging, traffic snarls that lasted for hours — all this was visible with 89.2 mm of rain that lashed the city on Thursday.

With debris lying still on the roads, all this made its way inside the storm-water drains clogging it further. The control rooms of the civic agencies were constantly ringing as they registered 106 complaints related to waterlogging within a few hours.

That such a situation can take place during the Games cannot be ruled out as the Met had earlier predicted high chances of rainfall during last week of September and first week of October.