Ready or not, here it comes

With days left for the Games, is Pune 100 per cent ready to host them?
Yes, Pune is getting ready. Work inside the stadium and on civic infrastructure has been completed on schedule. I am happy with the progress. We still have some days to go and the final touches will be given in these days. We have the best sports infrastructure and we have the Olympic team coming down to help us for various events. We are making sure that everything is in place.

What about the city8217;s civic infrastructure? Is it ready?
Yes, the four roads leading to the sports city have been done up. The much-talked-about Baner Road is ready. The media hype created about the delay in work, especially on this road, can be laid to rest now. The alternative road, Sus Road, too is ready; so are the approach road from Mumbai to Karve road via Chandni Chowk and the airport road.

The Centre recently released an extra Rs 43.5 crore. How is this going to be used?
This will be mainly for the organising committee to make various arrangements and stage various functions for the event.

How much funds have been utilised for the Games?
We got Rs 2,500 crore from the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. I had Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy visit the site and an extra Rs 500 crore was released. We spent Rs 2,500 crore on civic infrastructure and Rs 500 crore on the stadium.

Where have the maximum funds been allotted?
Roadwork took up the major chunk, followed by BRTS, riverside development, slum rehab, drainage on certain stretches and green islands.

How were the results of the green sports theme?
The aim was to reduce environmental pollution; I think we have been largely successful. A green council with R K Pachauri and Shashi Tharoor on the panel was formed looking ahead at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. We started the movement; it will be taken up from here.

How much was allocated for green sports?
Around Rs 5 crore was used for spreading the message. We stressed eco-construction, solar lighting and heating, rain harvesting and landscaping, environmental awareness in schools and e-waste management in colleges. We have set up biodiversity and theme parks and arranged CNG buses and battery-operated vehicles to ferry people to the stadium. Posters on the green Games too have been put up and I am happy with the way the message has been spread.

With the Met department forecasting rain, are the Games ready to face that?
We are equipped to counter the rain. Most of the events are indoors; for the rest we will make arrangements.

Are you happy the way Pune will be showcased?
This event will put Pune on the global map. We have done all we can to present the city at its best. These last few days will see the Games being promoted as a brand.

Earlier you had said that you are not looking at CYG as a revenue-raising event8230;
Yes. We look at it as an opportunity to showcase Pune.

MONEY MATTERS
HOW IT CAME8230;
Rs 2,500 crore
From the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission
Rs 500 crore
More, after Kalmadi8217;s talks with Jaipal Reddy
Rs 43.5 crore
Additional funds released recently

WHERE IT WENT8230;
Rs 2,500 crore
On civic infrastructure
Rs 500 crore
On the stadium
Rs 43.5 crore

For work by the organising committee, which will make various arrangements and stage various functions

GREEN GAMES
Rs 5 crore Used for spreading a green message Spent on:
Roadwork, which took up the bulk of the funds
BRTS
Riverside development
Slum rehabilitation
Drainage
Green islands