It has been revealed that of the 1.7 million tickets available for spectators, only 200,000 have been sold.

It means only a reported 10 per cent of the revenue target from ticket sales has been achieved.

Many of the blue-ribbon Commonwealth Games events, such as athletics, are now set to feature vast empty stands, although hockey - one of India’s most popular sports - appears to be the exception, having received a phenomenal 30 per cent of all sales.

Suresh Kalmadi, chairman of the Delhi 2010 organising committee, and his team have expressed their confidence in a surge of sales once the actual event begins.

But Selja feels that negative media coverage, which has focused largely on the shambolic state of the Athletes’ Village and high profile athlete boycotts over health and security fears, is largely to blame.

"The people have been reading about the Games and they go online to know what is happening here," she said.

"There will be a fallout but we are ready. We should present a positive face to the tourists together and forget the negative publicity."

Selja added that India will ensure that the condition of the Athletes’ Village will continue to be carefully monitored and stated that competitors will have people in place with whom to address complaints.

"Whatever the shortcomings at the Village, it’s our responsibility," she said.

"We have posted men round the clock to address the complaints."

Selja’s comments came as Delhi Chief Minister Shelia Dikshit announced the deadline for cleaning up the Games venues has been moved back by two to three days.

"It will take another two-three days [before] we will be up and ready," said Dikshit.

"I went to Jawaharial Nehru Stadium [which will host the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as the athletics] and everything is going on fine.

"Additional workers have been roped in at Jawaharial Nehru Stadium [to help rebuild the collapsed footbridge].

"I am confident the Games will be fine."

However, Delhi faces yet another major concern as the dedicated lanes for official Commonwealth Games vehicles have choked the city.

Yesterday was the first time the dedicated lanes were implemented on a weekday and unsurprisingly, the move led to chaos on the roads and long serpentine queues - particularly during the rush hours.

Commuters crossing the line into Games lanes - reserved for carrying athletes and delegates - had to shell out a fine of Rs 2,000.

Seventeen offenders were fined for crossing the line, while one vehicle was impounded -although some commuters complained they got confused at various roundabouts in central Delhi and inadvertently crossed the Games lane.

A senior traffic police officer admitted it was easily possible for commuters to get confused by the lanes and said personnel would help commuters take the right route, claiming motorists would not be "penalised unnecessarily".

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