‘Last-minute changes delaying JLN Stadium’

The dimensions of the aerostat are mind-boggling — 80 metres in circumference and 12 metres in height. “Since it is filled with helium,we will need an extremely strong anchoring mechanism to make sure that the aerostat remains floating close to the stadium instead of flying away. We were informed about the aerostat only a few months ago and are working on the anchoring mechanism,” said CPWD Director General B K Chugh.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is being built at a cost of Rs 961 crore.

While the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex is ready,the three stadiums inside — Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium,SP Mukerjee Swimming Pool Complex and a wrestling stadium — will be ready by July 20,Chugh said. Civil work at all these venues is complete and peripheral work like greenery,pavements and laying of cables is being done. It is expected to take another 15 days,Chugh said.

Chugh also blamed the Organising Committee for the delay,claiming the plan to have an underground tunnel below the stadium was also presented at the last moment to the CPWD. “In October,we were told about the tunnel and the work began in November. The tunnel alone took three months to be constructed,” Chugh added.

The organising committee had finalised the proposal of the aerostat in February this year. The aerostat is being brought from an Italian event management firm,K Events.