The transport issue: no buses, fewer drivers

With the Commonwealth Games venues located across east, south and north Delhi, transportation is going to be a challenge for the Games organisers. The Games Organising Committee (OC) is expected to have nearly 2,000 cars at its disposal to ferry athletes and officials between the Games village and venues. Tata Motors has agreed to provide 1,800 vehicles, including cars, containers and buses for the event.

With the Commonwealth Games venues located across east, south and north Delhi, transportation is going to be a challenge for the Games organisers.

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The Games Organising Committee (OC) is expected to have nearly 2,000 cars at its disposal to ferry athletes and officials between the Games village and venues. Tata Motors has agreed to provide 1,800 vehicles, including cars, containers and buses for the event.

The vehicles and the drivers, however, are yet to arrive. The OC will need about 3,000 drivers, working in different shifts, to ferry guests. Though it is the responsibility of the vehicle provider to recruit drivers, the OC has pitched in due to the acute shortage of drivers.

The vehicles, from Pune, are expected to arrive by this month-end. After this, the vehicles will have to be registered which is a month-long process. Drivers will have to be trained in etiquette and routes, which too will take time.

“The vehicles will be delivered in time and will meet the deadline,” said a Tata Motors spokesman. He said arrangements have also been made with the OC for the disposal of these vehicles after the Games are over.

Even if the OC gets the vehicles in time, no one has an idea where to park them. Parking sites at the venues have not yet been identified and no place has been earmarked to park the vehicles overnight.