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| Glasgow 2014: Examining Delhi's Commonwealth Games legacy | |
| (5 days later) | |
| The Queen's Baton Relay arrives at its first international destination today and it's a city which, three years ago, had observers like me on the edge of their seats. | The Queen's Baton Relay arrives at its first international destination today and it's a city which, three years ago, had observers like me on the edge of their seats. |
| Delhi, the capital of India, was host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2010. | Delhi, the capital of India, was host city for the Commonwealth Games in 2010. |
| There were predictions that the whole event would be in jeopardy because venue construction was way behind schedule. | There were predictions that the whole event would be in jeopardy because venue construction was way behind schedule. |
| As teams arrived at the athletes village, concerns were raised that it was unfinished and dirty. | As teams arrived at the athletes village, concerns were raised that it was unfinished and dirty. |
| But somehow everything came good and the opening ceremony was the dazzling spectacle that was needed to mark the end of controversy and the commencement of sport. | But somehow everything came good and the opening ceremony was the dazzling spectacle that was needed to mark the end of controversy and the commencement of sport. |
| Three years on and as the Queen's baton begins the build-up to the Glasgow games, I have returned to Delhi to see what legacy has been left. | Three years on and as the Queen's baton begins the build-up to the Glasgow games, I have returned to Delhi to see what legacy has been left. |
| First stop is Pragati Maidan metro station, part of a network which has only been in existence for ten years and which was expanded for and beyond the games. | First stop is Pragati Maidan metro station, part of a network which has only been in existence for ten years and which was expanded for and beyond the games. |
| At a cost of £2bn it is ultra-modern and takes two million people into the heart of the capital each day. | At a cost of £2bn it is ultra-modern and takes two million people into the heart of the capital each day. |
| Commuting | Commuting |
| One man emerging from the station tell me: "Driving is hell in Delhi, especially when you are commuting between Noida, Delhi and Gurgaon. | One man emerging from the station tell me: "Driving is hell in Delhi, especially when you are commuting between Noida, Delhi and Gurgaon. |
| "It's difficult but with the metro it is so easy, you don't have to worry about traffic, you don't have to worry about accidents." | "It's difficult but with the metro it is so easy, you don't have to worry about traffic, you don't have to worry about accidents." |
| A female resident adds: "That's the most convenient and comfortable way to commute in Delhi itself. That's the lifeline of Delhi." | A female resident adds: "That's the most convenient and comfortable way to commute in Delhi itself. That's the lifeline of Delhi." |
| Before the metro she says "it was time consuming, hectic and now it's hazard free". | Before the metro she says "it was time consuming, hectic and now it's hazard free". |
| But the metro hasn't exactly restored calm to this chaotic country. | But the metro hasn't exactly restored calm to this chaotic country. |
| Although it carries two million people every day, the roads here are still hectic and packed with cars, buses, tuk-tuks and a range of unconventional transport means. | Although it carries two million people every day, the roads here are still hectic and packed with cars, buses, tuk-tuks and a range of unconventional transport means. |
| Road markings still show a separate "games lane" for traffic, although that regulation is treated with the same disregard by drivers as many other rules. | Road markings still show a separate "games lane" for traffic, although that regulation is treated with the same disregard by drivers as many other rules. |
| Budget | Budget |
| Even since the closing ceremony, the problems for the Commonwealth Games continued, culminating is the jailing of the Organising Committee's Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, on corruption charges. | Even since the closing ceremony, the problems for the Commonwealth Games continued, culminating is the jailing of the Organising Committee's Chairman, Suresh Kalmadi, on corruption charges. |
| The games cost £2.5bn and were ten times over budget. | The games cost £2.5bn and were ten times over budget. |
| Politicians here don't want to talk about it, especially in the month before a local election. | Politicians here don't want to talk about it, especially in the month before a local election. |
| In fact the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, cancelled a planned interview with me at the last minute. | In fact the Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, cancelled a planned interview with me at the last minute. |
| Instead it was left to Dr A Didar Singh, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, to robustly defend Delhi's reputation. | Instead it was left to Dr A Didar Singh, Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce, to robustly defend Delhi's reputation. |
| He told me: "First of all there was a massive investment and business benefits from that, almost $12bn worth of work happened. | He told me: "First of all there was a massive investment and business benefits from that, almost $12bn worth of work happened. |
| "But I think more important that that is that it has given to us a permanent improved infrastructure for the city as a whole. | "But I think more important that that is that it has given to us a permanent improved infrastructure for the city as a whole. |
| "The sports part is one end of it but more than 90% of the funding went into improving the city infrastructure." | |
| He cites 25 new flyovers, walkways, a new airport and hotel space as a tremendous boost to tourism. | He cites 25 new flyovers, walkways, a new airport and hotel space as a tremendous boost to tourism. |
| He adds: "Tourism, basically, means more business." | He adds: "Tourism, basically, means more business." |
| Total renovation | Total renovation |
| Improvements have come in the main business and retail district, Connaught Place, which was due for a total renovation. | Improvements have come in the main business and retail district, Connaught Place, which was due for a total renovation. |
| It was supposed to be transformed in time for the 2010 games but work only started post-games and they're still finishing it off. | It was supposed to be transformed in time for the 2010 games but work only started post-games and they're still finishing it off. |
| International finance firm Grant Thornton India has a base in Connaught Place. | International finance firm Grant Thornton India has a base in Connaught Place. |
| Vishesh Chandoik, National Managing Partner, said: "We are used to most infrastructure projects in India suffering from time over runs so I wasn't surprised. | Vishesh Chandoik, National Managing Partner, said: "We are used to most infrastructure projects in India suffering from time over runs so I wasn't surprised. |
| "But I was still very happy and think the end result is substantially better than we had before. | "But I was still very happy and think the end result is substantially better than we had before. |
| "There is still a lot that can be done but it's about being better tomorrow than we are today and as long as they keep making those improvements I've got no reason to complain." | "There is still a lot that can be done but it's about being better tomorrow than we are today and as long as they keep making those improvements I've got no reason to complain." |
| While admiring the iconic India Gate, the giant archway which commemorates those lost in war, I was aggressively herded away with the other tourists, which seemingly happens at five o'clock every day. | While admiring the iconic India Gate, the giant archway which commemorates those lost in war, I was aggressively herded away with the other tourists, which seemingly happens at five o'clock every day. |
| It's maybe not the way tourists would be handled back home but illustrates the many cultural differences between here and the west. | It's maybe not the way tourists would be handled back home but illustrates the many cultural differences between here and the west. |
| Passive observers in Glasgow might wonder how, precisely, Delhi benefited from the games when the city's reputation was torn to shreds by the many issues. | Passive observers in Glasgow might wonder how, precisely, Delhi benefited from the games when the city's reputation was torn to shreds by the many issues. |
| But the reality is that this city is changing. | But the reality is that this city is changing. |
| The question is whether the games brought about the changes or whether they were used to symbolise them. | The question is whether the games brought about the changes or whether they were used to symbolise them. |
| Next week BBC Scotland will examine what sporting legacy the Delhi games created. | Next week BBC Scotland will examine what sporting legacy the Delhi games created. |