The head of the construction company working on India’s Formula One circuit has said it will be ready for 2011 despite reports to the contrary.
Gaur, managing director of India's JPSK Sports Pvt Ltd, told Reuters that construction of the track, located around 50 km from Indian capital New Delhi, will not be affected by the faltering global economy. There had been doubts that work would be delayed due to the financial crisis and after Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone said that India’s inaugural race had been postponed until after 2010 last October.
“The progress is very nice...I'm absolutely, absolutely confident [it will be completed], the track will be ready in 2011,” he said. “The race was pushed back from 2010 because of the Formula One calendar. From what we understand, they had scheduled an India race only in 2011. The design stage is in progress and regarding construction, the investigations of the site have also started.”
Gaur's company plans to build a “sports destination” around the 200,000-seater track, which includes plans for a 100,000-capacity cricket stadium, an 18-hole golf course and a 25,000-capacity hockey stadium and sports academy. Construction costs are estimated at up to $364 million.
Jaiprakash is India's largest builder of dams with interests in hospitality, engineering, construction and energy.
