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NEW DELHI - New Delhi is preparing to welcome visitors for the Commonwealth Games in October.
While the organising committee is battling against time to get the games village and stadiums ready, the government is putting its civic infrastructure in place.
Six million vehicles ply Delhi's roads every day. Anyone not used to daily jams and traffic snarls can find getting around the city an arduous task.
But to make sure that visitors have a smooth ride during the Games, the Delhi Police are getting ready to ensure a smoother ride.
Most of the congested routes connect various Games venues. To discipline traffic on these roads, the police have added 200 motorbike patrols to man the areas around the Games sites.
Yudhvir Singh Dadwal, Commissioner of Police, Delhi, said: "They have made their presence felt. They have taken effective action.
"Due to the motorbikes, the discipline on roads has increased. Accidents have been reduced and people have become conscious about breaking the law."
Nearly 30,000 volunteers are undergoing training to handle emergency situations during the Games.
The volunteers have less than three months to train, but they are an eager bunch who see it as a lifetime opportunity.
Rahul, a volunteer, said: "The Commonwealth Games has created quite a buzz here. We hear about it everyday from the media. The games are a positive factor for the city. So I feel enthusiastic to be a part of this and obviously I am learning a lot from this."
Visitors, though, will not get to see other cultural celebrations in Delhi.
Major Hindu festivals - Durga Puja and Dussehra - will clash with the two-week event.
Preparations begin for these well in advance, and the entire city revels in colourful festivities.
But keeping security in mind, fairs and ceremonies associated with the festivals will either be postponed or cancelled this year.
The Commonwealth Games will be India's biggest sporting event in 28 years. The country is expecting a huge rush of tourists for the Games.
For this, Delhi will be turned into a fortress and the city will nearly come to a standstill. The government is giving whatever it takes to pull off the October event in style.
- CNA/al
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