NEW DELHI: The soon-to-be-formed Organising Committee of the 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad is aiming to host the event with an operational budget between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000 crore.

A reliable source involved in the planning told PTI that estimates for ongoing infrastructure upgrades - covering both sporting venues and public utility facilities - are still being finalised before the overall expenditure for the mega event is confirmed.

The source said Gujarat has taken "important lessons" from the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games, which were marred by delays, cost overruns, and corruption controversies, and is determined to avoid repeating those mistakes.

India to host 2030 Commonwealth Games in Ahmedabad after two decades

"The operational cost for the Ahmedabad CWG would come to Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000 crore. This does not include funds (capital expenditure) that will go into building other infrastructure, some of it being handled by the urban development department," the source said.

"Obviously, the cost incurred for building public infrastructure will not be counted towards the Games as the utility of that is going to be beyond the Games. It's a slightly long-drawn process and we will need some time to come to a definitive estimate," he added.

The operational cost refers to the expenses incurred solely for staging the Games during the event period. A portion of this expenditure can be recovered through revenue streams such as ticket sales and commercial partnerships.

The operational cost of the 2010 Games was a little over Rs 2,600 crore which was way higher than the Rs 635 crore estimate. The Games, which ended up being the costliest of all time, cost the exchequer over Rs 70,000 crore overall.

Gujarat's Principal Secretary (Sports), Ashwani Kumar, who was part of the Indian delegation that was in Glasgow earlier this week when Ahmedabad was awarded the 2030 Games, refused to speak on the budget.

But he confirmed to PTI that the plan to have an Organising Committee that is registered as a not-for-profit company to be dissolved after the Games is under consideration.

The OC, which will face greater financial scrutiny owing to its status of being a company, is expected to be constituted by the end of December or beginning of January 2026.

"It (not of profit company) is under serious consideration. It's a model that was adopted by the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games and was recommended by CAG after the 2010 CWG in Delhi. I don't want to dwell on what happened in the Delhi Games but I think lessons have been learnt," he said.

The Melbourne edition is often described as one of the best CWG of all time, earning praise for its execution and public participation. Kumar said the Ahmedabad OC would strive for professionalism in every aspect and start operations by January first week.

"The OC will have 12 to 15 members. It will have a chairman, vice chairman, a CEO, representatives from Commonwealth Sport (the governing body of the Games), IOA, the Paralympic Committee of India, some athletes and domain experts as well," he said.

Headed by then IOA chief Suresh Kalmadi, the OC for Delhi CWG was registered as a society and drew heavy criticism for its handling of the Games and the corruption allegations against it.

The Ahmedabad CWG is expected to be held in the October of 2030 with an expected roster of 15 to 17 disciplines.

(With PTI Inputs)