National Games: Stadia work in full swing

By V.V. Subrahmanyam

HYDERABAD, MAY 8. Far from the world of intense debates about the conduct of the Punjab National Games and the consequent threat to the postponement of the 2002 National Games to be held in Hyderabad next February, a labour force of about 1100 is working round the clock to ensure that the deadline set by their masters, Nagarjuna Construction Company, is met and the project, including the main stadium for the Games, an international standard swimming pool and a world class indoor stadium will be ready by February 17, 2002 and handed over to the State Government.

A visit to the Games site at Gachchibowli will give a fair indication of the frenetic pace of the work going on and one can even get a feel of how the design of the main stadium (atleast the external elevation) will be.

Mr. S.S. Sharma, joint General Manager of the entire project, told `The Hindu' that they had nothing to do with the conduct or the postponement of the Games. ``It is not our headache. Our target is to complete the construction of these venues, besides the indoor stadia at Yousufguda and Saroornagar and hand them over as agreed upon originally,'' he says quite frankly.

To a query, Mr. Sharma also said that the onus would be on the State Government to take care of the maintenance of the venues once they were completed. For the record, the main athletic stadium will cost Rs. 20.30 crores, the air-conditioned indoor stadium Rs. 11.26 crores, the swimming pool Rs. 9.71 crores at Gachchibowli, the indoor stadium at Yosufguda Rs. 9.12 crores and the Saroornagar indoor stadium Rs. 8.87 crores besides the Rs. 12.4 crores for the development works at the main venue. And it is estimated to cost atleast Rs. 10 lakhs per month with a minimum 100 staff required to ensure proper maintenance.

Well, if the authorities deem it is enough to seal the venues and just appoint two watchmen, then it is a different issue. Maybe then, there would not be any need to re-open the seal!

At the site, what is pleasing is the spirit with which the group of 65 engineers are monitoring the project. Not one of them is bothered about what is happening outside the venue. ``It is not our job. For us, the completion of the work is more important,'' says Mr. V.S.N.N. Raju, senior engineer of the Games project. He also said that they had been interacting with all the stalwarts on the technical front from different disciplines to seek suggestions regarding the venues.

``So far, there is no major deviation from the original plan of any one of the venues,'' he said to a query.

One of the respected figures to visit the Games site is Mr. A.S.V. Prasad, technical adviser to Indian Olympic Association. On his suggestion a meeting with some of the reputed officials from SAI would be held soon to guide the site engineers.

On the technical side, Mr. Raju says that the external elevations for all the stadia should be the first of its kind in the country. ``We are taking every step to ensure that this should be a project worth being a perfect model,'' he said.

Mr. L.V. Subrahmanyam, vice-chairman and managing director of SAAP, is always there twice a week to know personally about what is happening. So, as far as the infrastructure is concerned, it will be ready by next February.

But, what should be a major source of worry for SAAP is the grim possibility of postponing the Games if the Punjab edition is held as per schedule in September this year. Normally, an year's gap is required between two National Games. And unfortunately, even next September can be a doubtful starter in view of the Asian Games around that time. In such a scenario, it may have to be put off to 2003. This is the crux of the issue and will impose a huge financial burden for SAAP which has in fact taken a loan of more than Rs. 150 crores from HUDCO for the Games.

Obviously, the State Government is keeping its fingers crossed about the Punjab Games. If by chance, they are off, then everything will go according to the plan.

Another major worrying factor is the Games Village comprising mostly accommodation which is given to another firm on a `development' concept under which the contractors have to complete it and hand over the flats to the organisers one month before and then take back possession after the Games. For, as per the agreement, the builders have the right to dispose off the flats to meet a major chunk of the cost of construction.

The issue is if the Games are postponed, then the Government may land up finally in paying heavy interest rate, for it can neither take possession of the flats nor let the builders dispose it off. Thus the State Government is caught in a piquant situation over which it has little control except hoping for the best - probably from its angle of the Punjab Games being called off if the organisers seek one more postponement!

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Section  : Sport
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