Commonwealth Games Federation chief Michael Fennell began a two-day tour yesterday of the much-delayed venues for the Delhi showpiece as the city struggles to be ready just 45 days from the start.

The Indian capital resembles a construction site in areas, with some of the venues still unfinished and public sentiment turning against the three-billion-dollar competition after a series of corruption scandals.

Fennell is expected to meet senior government leaders, possibly including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his visit and will also address the executive board of the organising committee.

Venues, some renovated and others brand new, have only recently been handed over to the organising committee to make them ready – at least six months behind schedule.

The desperate race to get everything finished in time has been hampered by heavy monsoon rains that have turned worksites across the city into mudbaths and even flooded some of the venues.

The main Jawaharlal Nehru stadium, where the ceremonies and athletics will take place, is still being worked on, as is the swimming pool complex, the table-tennis hall and the shooting ranges.

The event, already the most expensive Commonwealth Games with official estimates of three billion dollars, has been marred by charges of rampant corruption, dubious contracts and poor workmanship.

Singh, worried that India’s image as a growing global economic power was being hurt by the accusations, stepped in last week to rescue the troubled Games.

He gave “overriding powers” to a panel of government ministers and secretaries to take over management of the preparations as organisers struggled in the race against time.

The event, India’s biggest sporting festival since the Asian Games in 1982, will feature athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and territories featuring in 17 disciplines.