Ranchi, Oct. 30: Believe it or not, sports minister Bandhu Tirkey is sure about getting more time from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to complete the infrastructure for the 34th National Games.

“I am confident that we will get some extra time so that we can make preparations befitting the National Games,” Tirkey said today, adding that otherwise the Games would be held without perfect preparations.

Commenting on a goof-up on the Games dates in the tender floated on the department’s website inviting bids for providing transport facilities during the Games, Tirkey said: “There must have been some mistake in announcing the new dates. As of now, the National Games is scheduled to start on November 30, but we are sure of some extension. Anyway, I shall find out how those new dates have appeared in the tender notice.”

He added: “As there was no response to the first tender notice, the department had to re-tender inviting bids for providing transport facilities during the Games.”

Senior JOA and Games organising committee officials, too, are baffled with the new dates (January 10 to January 23) mentioned in the tender.