Lying closed for years, Chandigarh MC to run gyms on PPP mode

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 23

Get set to hit the gym in your neighbourhood community centre as the Municipal Corporation (MC) is on its way to hand over these gyms to interested parties under the PPP mode.

Almost all gyms have been lying closed for about two or five years due to the apathetic attitude of the civic body. A few gyms closed down even after their inauguration, in the absence of any policy or planning to run them.

A few gyms, including one at the community centres in Sector 22, 49 and Mahila Bhavan, Sector 38, were functional for some time. Many gyms, including the one in Sector 27, were never opened to the public. The gyms at the modern community centers of Sector 37 and 38 also failed to open their doors to the public. These two modern community centres were built at a cost of Rs 5 crore each and were inaugurated about two years ago.

The main reason the MC gave for these gyms lying closed is there being no policy to hire a gym trainer. A few gyms which remained functional for a brief period were also closed down as the trainers could not be paid by the gym committee. Issues related to involvement of councillors and ward residents in gym committees also played a spoilsport.

“It is a sheer waste of public money. It is surprising that years after setting up the gyms, the authorities are still in the process of framing a policy to run them. It should have been framed before setting up the facilities,” said Baljinder Singh Bittu, Chairman, FOSWAC.

Leader of the Opposition Devinder Singh Babla said: “I think running the gyms under the PPP mode is a good move. At least, we will be able to run and maintain them. But, we should set minimum affordable rates for the public and it should be ensured that ward residents are given priority in enrolment.”

Municipal Commissioner KK Yadav said: “The PPP model will be implemented after getting approval of House on November 27. It will generate revenue and we will also be able to run the gyms professionally, besides taking care of their maintenance.”There are around 46 community centres in the city and about 50 per cent of them have gyms. Several machines are in need of repairs.

What forced their closure

The main reason the MC gave for these gyms lying closed is there being no policy to hire a gym trainer. A few gyms which remained functional for a brief period were also closed down as the trainers could not be paid.