According to the Sports Authority of India, the Nehru Stadium, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2010 Games, needs a complete overhaul. All you can see are unfinished pillars and concrete outlines of the accommodation and training rooms. But the Central Public Works Department is confident that the project will be ready for use by March 2010. The stadium is being partially covered. New athletics tracks will be laid soon and separate accommodation and technical rooms are being constructed. According to Rajesh Kalla, CPWD chief engineer in charge of the Games projects, 55 per cent of the work is complete. Currently, work related to the partial covering of the stadium is on. The warm-up area behind

the stadium is yet to be upgraded to accommodate a special arena for throwing events.

THYAGARAJ COMPLEX, Built in early ‘90s, Capacity: No stands, New capacity: 4,500, Deadline: September 2009, now pushed to March 2010

A new multi-purpose, air-conditioned indoor hall is coming up at the complex to host netball. Although the sports complex has missed its September 2009 deadline, the PWD claims 60 per cent of the work is complete. Work on the three-storied administrative block for the IOA and the organising committee is on. The stadium is being connected to the nearby Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium through a new flyover. Trusses—triangular units constructed with straight slender beams—are in place to complete the new roof that will transform this venue into a spacious stadium with a dynamic design. The indoor stadium will have facilities for athletics training.

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