CAG starts quick audit of 2010 Commonwealth Games projects

Amid fears of inviting disrepute all over the world due to delays in executing projects for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the Comptroller and Auditor General has begun a quick audit of the work that's on.

"The auditing watchdog has started audit of the projects, the cost of which could go beyond Rs 9,000 crore. We have obtained (the) Games masterplan and all other documents regarding various projects and hope to complete the audit by May-June," a source in the know said.

The preliminary inquiry, the source said, indicates that there have been inordinate delays in awarding work even as several projects are running behind schedule. The government has drawn flak from different quarters for delays in projects relating to the Games, scheduled for October 3-14 next year.

Auditors have taken exception to the abandoning of projects, extravaganza, poor planning and mismanagement among other issues, sources said, citing examples of how a project to build an underground tunnel from the Games Village to the sports arena was abandoned and then plans were made for elevated roads.

It still remains a million-dollar question as to how such a huge crowd would come out of the residential facilities at the Games Village and reach the venue as there is only one route, sources said, questioning the level of preparedness on infrastructure.

The organisers of the Games, sources said, have been asked to submit project details to the auditors.

In addition, the Sports Authority of India, the Ministry of Sports, the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, the New Delhi Municipal Corporation, the Delhi government, Delhi University and other bodies involved in the event have been asked to provide necessary inputs to auditors.

The audit was necessitated amid fears of the cost rising and the quality of projects getting compromised as well as apprehensions that if the government misses the deadline in project completion and the Games Village has to be shifted from the present venue, India may not get to organise international sports events in the future.

Earlier, a Parliamentary Committee had expressed fears that the 2010 Games projects may miss the deadline as the organisers have yet to initiate action on various schemes. There are doubts on housing projects for accommodating tourists, players and officials getting completed.

The CAG had carried out a similar mid-course review of the UPA government's flagship schemes, including the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, the Mid Day Meal scheme and the Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission earlier.