The Union Ministry of Tourism is involved in monitoring the requirements for accommodation for the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, 2010 being held at Delhi.
The Minister of Tourism Kumari Selja, held a meeting here on 15th July 2009 with the representative of State Governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, all land owning agencies and other stakeholders to take stock of the progress made in respect of various segments of accommodation for the Games. She followed it up today with site visits to Paharganj and Vasant Kunj, Delhi to personally asses the situation and showcase the progress made so far.
Various land owning agencies such as Governments of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (NOIDA, Greater NOIDA and Ghaziabad) and Haryana; Ministry of Urban Development, Delhi Development Authority, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi International Airport Limited, had been asked by the Minister to closely monitor the projects. In this regard, a Task Force has been constituted in the Ministry of Tourism to review and monitor all the hotel projects that are coming up for the Games.
Kumari Selja while reviewing the progress of work relating to the new hotel projects advised to the different agencies that each room needs to be accounted for and therefore all concerned agencies should closely review and monitor the Commonwealth Games projects. During the meeting, the Minister was also briefed regarding the progress made so far by DDA for taking up measures for providing alternative accommodation in the form of 5,500 DDA flats at Vasant Kunj and Jasola.
As regards the proposal to use licensed Guest Houses during the Games, the Minister laid stress on the beautification / upgradation of the surrounding areas by the Govt. of Delhi as this would be an important factor towards the overall improvement of the Guest Houses. The minister was told that MCD would be taking up the upgradation / beautification of the cluster of Guest Houses identified by them and the Govt. of Delhi would also allocate funds in this regards.
It was also conveyed in the meeting that the Govt. of Delhi is in the process of expediting all the pending applications for approval of new Bed & Breakfast (B&B) units in Delhi and would shortly be launching an advertising and publicity campaign to attract more homeowners to join the scheme.
Kumari Selja today unveiled before the media the first upgraded and fully furnished sample DDA flat at Vasant Kunj, New Delhi. The flat is part of the Alternative Accommodation Scheme for Commonwealth Games 2010 to bridge the shortage of rooms after suitably furnishing them. Speaking on the occasion the Union Minister of Tourism Kumari Selja said, at the site at Vasant Kunj behind Pocket D-6 and Pocket D-6, there are 1904 + 805 flats (2709 flats) in the following categories:
HIG 3 Bed Room Flat 876 nos.
HIG 2 Bed Room Flat 132 nos.
MIG 2 Bed Room Flat 416 nos.
LIG 1 Bed Room Flat 480 nos.
LIG 1 Bed Room Flat 805 nos. (At D-6)
Total 2709 Flats (5009 Rooms)
She said, the above flats shall be operated by ITDC after appropriately furnishing to three star standards. Approximate Cost of furnishing the flats is:
3 Bed Room Flat Rs. 4.5 lakh
2 Bed Room Flat Rs. 3.5 lakh
1 Bed Room Flat Rs. 2.5 lakh.
Kumari Selja said, the DDA has promised to handover Vasant Kunj flats to ITDC for upgradation and furnishing by March 2010. She said, the furnished flats would be ready by ITDC for use much ahead of the Games. The Minister said besides above at Vasant Kunj, there are 330 Flats at Jasola Pocket 10-B, which could be used for domestic budget travelers and supporting staff and volunteers of the Games.
