Reports of an angry Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) bossman writing to the Indian Prime Minister because he thinks that India’s capital city will not be ready in time to host the next edition of the games just over a year away, and that it would embarrass the organisers, the host nation and also the federation, would shock only those not conversant with the happenings in this city.

This city, which is to host the games in October next year, is a complete mess. Almost every major road is dug up or blocked, either for Metro or flyover construction, and others that are not affected by games-related construction can thank substandard material used in road building for giving the entire city a uniform experience. Even calling it a disgrace is an understatement.

When the media went ballistic last week because commuters took 5 to 6 hours to traverse just 5 or 6 km, there was, for a change, no exaggeration. If anything, it was worse. Of course, all of it was exacerbated by the indiscipline that is the hallmark of the citizens of this city.

And this is just the roads and other networks that are basically required to get to the venues where the events would take place, but what about the venues themselves? By all available reports (CGF says 13 of 19 venues are between 30% and 50% behind schedule), they are so far behind schedule that some of them may be a disaster in the making if rushed through.

Singapore readied its new terminal at Changi a complete year before the due date for its inauguration so that that they could test all systems extensively. What makes the builders of Delhi airport think that they will have all in place in just a couple of months after getting their civil work completed? If anyone has the confidence that it would be hunky dory, I would like to meet that optimistic soul.

A lot of people have argued that it was the same in 1982, prior to the Asian Games, but things still turned out remarkably well. Even this statement has two sides to it. One, there was a gentleman called Rajiv Gandhi, who had involved himself fully in the project and the famous Indian babudom and red tape was made ineffective. But two, and this is even more important, the quality was abysmal even then. The Asiad Village homes had stairs of uneven sizes and most of the flyovers built then are falling apart. Where else does such infrastructure fall apart in under 30 years?

Right in the beginning, I said that the CWG head feels a poorly organised game would embarrass the organisers. I think this gent is wrong. Such Teflon coated are our organisers (comprising mostly of scheming politicians) that nothing can embarrass them. The only ones embarrassed would be the ones like us and shamed would be our nation.