With not much time left for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Delhi government is implementing various schemes to give the city a major facelift for the mega sporting event, Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna on Monday said. In his address to the Delhi Assembly on the opening day of its Budget session, Khanna also highlighted various schemes undertaken for welfare of the poor and vulnerable section of the society.

In his 30-minute address, he referred to government's initiatives in various sectors including transport, health, power, industries, education and tourism. He said 24 new flyovers and bridges were being constructed to improve the city's road connectivity ahead of the Commonwealth Games. A drive has been launched for beautification of roads.

As many as 3,800 new low-floor and semi-low floor buses are being procured, he said adding that the process of phasing out Blueline buses will begin soon. The Governor said steps have been taken to upgrade existing facilities in hospitals for the Commonwealth Games. During the current financial year, six allopathic, four ayurvedic, five homeopathic and one unani dispensaries will be opened in the city.

Khanna said in order to protect the citizens from the ill effects of passive smoking and to reduce tobacco consumption, the Government has proposed a two-year "Smoke Free Delhi" project. Giving details of steps to reduce pollution, he said a ban has been imposed on the use of plastic bags in hotels, hospitals and by small shopkeepers and street vendors.

He also said the Government has formulated SEZ policy to facilitate setting up of SEZs in high technology areas such as IT and IT-enabled service industries. The quantum of monthly financial assistance to senior citizens and unemployment allowance to the disabled persons havs been enhanced from Rs 400 to Rs 1,000, he said.

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