Railways not to give money to CWG OC, but to Sports Ministry

With the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee being mired in corruption allegations, the Railways has decided against giving it sponsorship worth Rs 100 crore and instead allocate it to the Sports Ministry.

With the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee being mired in corruption allegations, the Railways has decided against giving it sponsorship worth Rs 100 crore and instead allocate it to the Sports Ministry.

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"We will give it (sponsorship money) to the Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry and it is upto them to carry forward," Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee told reporters here.

The Railways, lead partner of the Commonwealth Games, had committed Rs 100 crore as sponsorship money. However, after allegations of corruption were levelled against top officials of the Games Organising Committee, the Railways withheld the amount.

"The issue has been resolved now and the MoU will be signed shortly," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

However, the official clarified that the sponsorship money of Rs 100 crore will not be entirely cash.

While railways have already launched a Commonwealth Games train showcasing the Games, it is planning to run special trains to Agra and Jaipur and other places for visitors during the Games.

"So launching of these trains will also be taken into account as part of the sponsorhsip amount," said the official.