Suresh Kalmadi said on Tuesday that the estimated cost of the Commonwealth Games 2010 could further go up owing to a rise in raw material prices, but the Games organising committee chairman rejected reports that he'd asked for an increase in the budget.

"The cost of building the infrastructure for the Games is likely to go up as the prices of raw materials — steel and cement — have increased. However, it is up to the government to increase the budget of the Games. The organising committee hasn't asked for it yet," Kalmadi told The Indian Express, after a section of the media quoted him as saying that the CWG budget would be increased in the wake of economic downturn.

The prices of steel and cement had shot through the roof last year, but eased off considerably after the recession hit. However, Kalmadi pointed out that the prices were still above the levels they were at three years back. "We are not saying that it has anything to do with the ongoing recession. The prices might have come down lately but they are higher than what they were three years back — when construction work began," clarified Kalmadi, who on Tuesday inspected renovation work at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

He said the stadium and the weightlifting hall would be ready by December 2009. "Work is very much on track. With 30 per cent of work competed, I am hopeful CPWD would be able to complete the task before the end of this year. “The feedback from other venues is equally good. Most stadia will be ready by December so that we can conduct test events in March 2010," the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president said.

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