A statement in Parliament by India's Junior Sports Minister Pratik Prakashbapu Patil reflected a race against time for the Games, which are due to open on October 3 next year and last for 11 days. 

 

The project has faced delays from the planning stage and then cost increases due to the rise in prices of steel, cement and labour, he said.

 

Listing the percentage of work completed at each venue Patil however expressed confidence the venues would be ready before the Games.

 

The athletics venue in the main Jawaharlal Nehru stadium complex and the Games Village are only half completed while less than seven per cent work is finished on the archery arena.

 

Patil also admitted that construction at the S.P.M. Swimming complex, cycling velodrome and the wrestling stadium at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium Complex started late due to delay in getting clearance for the architectural designs.

 

The Commonwealth Shooting Championships, which was due to be held at the range in October, has had to be postponed as a result of the delays.

 

Construction delays had already forced organisers to move the World Badminton Championships, due to be held in August, to be moved to Hyderabad from Delhi.

 

Sports Minister M S Gill had raised concerns last month over the slow progress of work.

 

Patil said: “We have increased the pace of construction and the shortfall would be bridged soon.

 

“The Ministry is closely monitoring the enormous work involved, in organising the infrastructure for the Games.

 

"Various sports facilities will be completed well in time before the Commonwealth Games."

 

Organisers said last month that higher construction costs would force the Games to go up to eight per cent over the planned 76 billion rupees (£979 million) budget.