Bhubaneswar, Aug. 10: The development authority has decided to go the extra mile to meet your fitness needs - build three more gymnasiums for Rs 2.54 crore in the city.
While two of these will come up at Buddha Jayanti Park at Chandrasekharpur and Kharavela Park at Khandagiri, the third will be built near BDA's HIG duplex colony in Pokhariput.
According to the plan, the Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) will be responsible for the construction of the gymnasiums, which will be operated and maintained by a private company.
"We have already floated tender. The construction will be completed by June next year. We will select a private partner who will operate the gyms," said an official of the development authority.
The BDA is already operating a similar facility at the Indira Gandhi Park. To access services of the gym, which is operated in public-private-partnership mode, once has to become a member for a monthly fee of RS 500. The fully air-conditioned gym has specialised trainers and high-end equipment. Sources said that BDA would replicate the model for its proposed gyms.
"It is a good move by the development authority to open more such gyms in the city and the locations are just spot on. People can go to the parks, jog and exercise at the gym," said Sumeet Mishra, a fitness freak.
However, the authorities are yet to decided on the membership fees for the upcoming gyms.
Last year, the development authority had set up open-air gyms at several parks. These facilities have proved to be a runaway success. The facilities were built at Biju Patnaik Park near Capital Hospital, Buddha Jayanti Park near Niladri Vihar, Kelucharan Park near Netaji Enclave, Madhusudan Park near Pokhariput and Kharavela Park near Khandagiri-Udayagiri Hills.
The gyms have basic equipment such as fitness bikes, air walkers, sit-up benches, double-back stretcher, waist and shoulder twisters, chest press, leg raise, leg stretcher and leg press and many more.
The development authority will also be the first agency in the city to develop outdoor fitness equipment corners.
"The open-air gyms in the parks are free to all. Anyone can go and exercise at anytime. But these don't have high-end equipment. These new gyms will have these additional features," said the official.
At present, the city has three government-run gyms. Apart from BDA's gym at IG Park, the state sports and youth services department has one at Kalamandap Yoga Centre. "The city is growing in population and most of them are outsiders, mainly students who are young and love to maintain their body. The city administration has taken the right decision to provide the service. I hope they will provide the service at an affordable price," said Sailabala Padhi, a resident of Pokhariput.
