JOIN USNDMC comes up with open gyms
People use several modes of exercise to keep themselves fit – some prefer running on the treadmill and pumping iron while others prefer jogging and exercising in the open. However, those living in the New Delhi Municipal Council area will soon have the luxury of using fitness equipment in the peace and tranquility of nature.
Borrowing the idea from western countries, the civic body has decided to provide open gyms in the parks of all the residential colonies in its limits as well as the lawns and gardens of its offices. As a pilot project, some equipment have already been installed at Palika Services Officer Institute club in Chankyapuri, the response to which, officials say, has been very encouraging.
“Many people resist the idea of exercising in the closed rooms of a gym. Therfore, four equipment abs shaper, leg shaper, back shaper and the horse have been installed in the lawns of the club on a trial basis,” said a senior NDMC official.
“The feedback from the club managers have been very encouraging. People who visit the club in the morning and evening for excercise wait in queue for their turn and they have already started demanding for more such equipment. We would install them in other parks as well,” added the official.
Civic body officials said concerned department officials have been asked to intimate the resident welfare associations of all the residential colonies in their limits to make a formal request if they want to open garden gyms to be installed in their parks. Several residential colonies, mostly inhabited by the government employees, like Sarojini Nagar, RK Puram, East Kidwai Nagar, Chankayapuri among others fall in the limits of NDMC.
“The engineers have been advised to identify parks which are safe enough to install the equipment. Only a well guarded park or a garden would be chosen for installation of the equipment. We would also install some in the lawns of some of our offices, including the NDMC headquarter Palika Kendra,” said an official.
Officials said around 9-10 different kinds of equipment will be installed in the parks. Since they will be eco-friendly, they will not require any additional electricity or hydraulic power.