Hyderabad: Open gyms at all parks in the city, says GHMC

Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has proposed to set up open gyms in 74 parks across the city.

At present, there are six open gyms in the city, one each in east zone, west zone, south zone and north zone, while two in central zone.

The open gyms that are currently operational include Dr AS Rao Nagar Park (East zone), Gulmohar Park (West zone), Imliban Park (South zone), Indira Park and Krishnakanth Park (Central zone) and Nehru Nagar Park (North zone).

The GHMC will be setting up open gyms in 25 parks in LB Nagar zone, 12 parks in Charminar zone, 15 parks in Khairatabad zone, 6 parks in Serilingampally zone, 8 in Kukatpally zone and 8 in Secunderabad zone.

However, the initial efforts hit hurdles and the tenders floated by the GHMC did not get the the desired response. Depending on the size and availability of open space in the parks, different gym equipment has been proposed.

The offhand response to the tenders for new facilities was due to the stringent norms prescribed, designs, requirement of equipment and cost factors. The issue of delays in setting up of gyms at the parks also came up during a GHMC meeting last year.

Speaking to THI, N Yadagiri, Additional Commissioner, Sports said, "These open gyms are well-received by the public, especially appreciated by the senior citizens. After they are done with walking, these apparatus assist them with hand, leg and hip exercises.

The tender for open gyms in the park has been revised. Once it is finalised, we will get the estimated cost and the works will start soon. The tender also includes the proposal of the gym equipments depending on the open spaces that is available in the parks."

"Meanwhile, once the proposal of open gyms in various parks gets a green light, the open gyms would equip several gym equipments including leg press, twister 3 in 1, duos pendulum, vertical shoulder pull, abdominal rider, shoulder back twist, body shaper, leg curl, shoulder fly and many other.