Commonwealth Games: DDA readying 5000 flats for visitors

The Delhi Development Authority is readying over 5,000 flats in South Delhi for accommodating tourists during the Commonwealth Games 2010.  

The flats are being readied in Vasant Kunj and Jasola to partly offset the shortage of accommodation for over 50,000 guests during the sporting extravaganza.  

"We are readying these flats to deal with the shortfall of accommodation during the Commonwealth Games," a senior DDA official said.    

The official said refurbishment of these flats has already started and it will be completed soon.    

He said after DDA finishes the construction activities, the Indian Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) will furnish the flats as per standard of three-star hotels.      

"The flats will be done up by the ITDC as per standard of a three-star hotel," the official said.      

Although Commonwealth Games (CWC) Organizing Committee officially maintains that there would be no shortage of rooms, but still accommodation remains a major area of concern.   

The tourism ministry had estimated a shortfall of about 40,000 hotel rooms required for the tourists during the event.  

At present the city has about 11,000 hotel rooms.

Although several hotels are coming up in the city and NCR, there is uncertainty whether there will be enough accommodation for the guests.      

The Organising committee is also planning to have tent accommodation for officials during the event.      

The Delhi Government had launched bed-and-breakfast scheme to ensure additional accommodation for the tourists.      

The Haryana and Uttar Pradesh Governments are also initiating various projects to provide accommodation for the guests during the sporting event.       

Officials said the two states are expected to provide nearly 12,000 to 14,000 rooms in guest houses and hotels.