The 1982 Asian Games were good for the Capital — transforming parts of Delhi from a conglomerate of semi-urban villages into a modern city. The 2010 Commonwealth Games promise to take Delhi to another level — that of a world-class megalopolis.
And it is not just promises. The dhamal Delhi promised in Melbourne on Sunday is well on track. Huge public investments have been planned — in a mass rapid transport, roads, flyovers, power plants, sports facilities and residential complexes.
If Asiad '82 changed south and parts of central Delhi, the top beneficiaries of the Commonwealth Games — the third instance of planned infrastructure development since the change of capital in 1911 — will be east and southeast Delhi and Delhi University's North Campus.
The Games Village is coming up in east Delhi, on NH 24, just behind the Akshardham temple. It will also have a Rs 15-crore hospital and a dedicated 1 MGD water-treatment plant.
Of the 19 five-star and budget hotels planned before 2010, six are in east (two in Mayur Vihar, one in Shahdara) and south Delhi (two in Jasola and one in Okhla).
New sports facilities will be readied at south Delhi's Siri Fort sports complex and east Delhi's Yamuna sports complex.
{{/usCountry}}New sports facilities will be readied at south Delhi's Siri Fort sports complex and east Delhi's Yamuna sports complex.
{{/usCountry}}Ten of the 11 new flyovers will be in south and east Delhi -- among them, at Adhchini, Ambedkar Nagar-Khanpur-Deoli, Saidulajab, Nizamuddin railway station, Shanti van and Rajghat crossing.Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies, will be renovated. A new road will connect the Games village to the stadium. Two power plants are planned — a 1,000 MW gas-based power plant at Bawana and a 330 MW Pragati power plant II near Indraprastha Extension.
The North Campus will get a makeover. Its colleges will host some events (rugby 7s, aquatics) and provide training facilities for badminton and shooting. The Games' organising committee has identified the playgrounds at St Stephen's, Hindu, Ramjas, SRCC and Daulat Ram for holding rugby. A modern stadium for aquatic events will be constructed.
The Capital's public transport will get a general leg-up. Chances are, the Metro will construct a High-Speed Corridor from New Delhi railway station to the airport. The crowning glory? Delhi will get a modern airport in place of the present dilapidated one.