The XIX Commonwealth Games were meant to showcase a rising India, instead the build-up to it is turning out to be nothing but an embarrassment.

India had initially promised to hand over the venues to Games organisers by December 31, 2009, but the entire infrastructure is piteously behind schedule.

Accepting the frightening reality, chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee Suresh Kalamadi said: “Yes, the construction work will be carried on till the end of June.

 “Commonwealth Games Federation in London has been informed of this delay. The Games Village should be handed to the organising committee by August 1.”

Bureaucracy and red tapism have delayed plans to refurbish roads, venues and participants’ housing complex.

Commonwealth Games sites across Delhi are plagued with cranes, open pits and rampant with half-hearted building activities nowhere near completion.

In the rush to meet deadlines, bamboo grooves have been planted to cover several slums. The ‘civilising campaign’ levying fines on littering, urinating and spitting in public places has also been abandoned. So have plans to teach taxi drivers, waiters and security staff English and international etiquette.

 Despite this ruckus, a placating organising committee secretary-general Lalit Bhanot said: “There is nothing to worry. The October Games will be like a grand Indian wedding which is initially chaotic.”