Pune Internatal Airport won't be ready for CYG: Kalmadi

Pune, Jan 22 (UNI) Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Suresh Kalmadi today said the Pune International Airport will not be ready to handle heavy international passenger traffic for the Commonwealth Youth Games (CYG) to be held in the city in October this year.

Talking to reporters here after reviewing preparations for the CYG, Mr Kalmadi said the civil work to extend the runway has been delayed at the Pune airport.

''It will be ready after the games. Many teams will arrive in special charter flights and some will have to come by road from Mumbai,'' he said.

To a query about security, he said the Central government was monitoring all security concerns carefully. The teams will be provided tight security and the Pune Police Commissioner Jayant Umraanikar had made a good presentation and the Central authorities were satisfied with it, he informed.

He said several road building works had got clearance. A sizeable amount had been released under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Similarly, Rs 1,000 crore had been earmarked for the city. An additional amount of Rs 300 crore had been sanctioned for cost escalation.

''The infrastructure at Balewadi will be handed over to the IOC by May 31. The works on accommodation and hotels remain incomplete, which will be completed by July,'' Mr Kalmadi said.

He appealed to the citizens and political parties in the city to work together and make the CYGs a success.

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