Commonwealth Games to boost Delhi's GDP by 49 pc

New Delhi, June 15 (UNI) The Delhi government is likely to earn a revenue of Rs 4,500 crore with various promotional and sponsorship activities during the Commonwealth Games 2010, resulting in a 49 per cent increase to Rs 1,75,000 crore in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) from the present level of Rs 1,17,000 crore.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) in its 'Forthcoming Commonwealth Games : Possible Revenue Generation Resources for Delhi' resource paper said the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC), various privately-owned hospitals in Delhi and NCR and the Delhi International Airport will also earn a whooping revenue of over Rs 540 crore during the same period through increased inflow of foreign and domestic tourists.

Assocham Secretary General D S Rawat said, ''The games will generate direct and indirect activities in almost every segment with a large number of infrastructural projects getting commissioned. The Delhi government will be its beneficiary which will benefit the masses.'' The overall Indian economy is growing at a buoyant rate in which the contribution of Delhi government is significant. The rough estimates reveal that Delhi's current contribution to national GDP is about five per cent. By 2010 the same contribution will prove to be substantial to the GDP, the industry body pointed out.

The revenue by way of sponsorship, partnership and advertisement can be higher also against the projected estimates of Rs 4,000 crore which will depend as to how the games attract the mood of corporates for advertising their products during the event, Mr D S Rawat further added.

The potential corporates include international and domestic corporates in the areas of sportswear, real estate, automobile companies, soft drink giants, cement, steel, telecom products, electrical, home appliances, retailers, airlines, hotels, service providers etc.

The domestic institutions like Reliance, Tata, Infosys, Maruti, Ranbaxy, Videocon, Mahindra, ONGC, IOC, HPCL, DLF, Parsvnath, Hero Honda, Bajaj, Britannia, etc are expected to put their logo and advertisement on various roads and lanes leading to the commonwealth games venue.

According to the estimates, from these overseas and domestic corporates, Delhi Government with proper planning can earn Rs 3,000 crore worth of sponsorship and partnership.

In a bid to target advertisement of Rs 1,000 crore, various overseas and domestic corporates, real estate developers, airlines, hotels, tour operators, service industry etc will be the ideal advertisers.

In totality, Delhi Government, Organising Committee, DTTDC, hospitals in Delhi and NCR and the Delhi International Airport will get a revenue of Rs 4,540 during games, Assocham said.

With the government's promotion of Incredible India campaign, medical tourism will prosper during the commonwealth games. Private hospitals in Delhi and NCR like Moolchand, Sir Ganga Ram, Apollo, Fortis, Kailash, City, G M Modi, Max etc are expecting large inflow of medical tourists from Canada, Australia, UK, South Africa, Singapore New Zealand, Mauritius and many other countries.

Better connectivity from the games village and hotels in Delhi will help these hospitals fetch Rs 50 crore through treatment of one lakh foreign patients.

Delhi International Airport will have presence of its airlines from all major Commonwealth countries like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Australian Airlines, Air Canada, Singapore Airlines, Malyasia Airlines, South African Airlines, including many others.

''These will pay various charges during their arrival and departure from Delhi airport. Delhi airport will get a revenue of Rs 40 crore by way of airport handling charges, duty-free shops, parking,'' the chamber added.

UNI