Velmurugans in repairs.
The opportunity for district level discs is unable to pay for expensive fitness centers and free corporate facilities on the road tax road have died for two years due to lack of funds and maintenance.
The majority of 160 corporation gym is in a similar state.
In 2016, then the chairman of the Minister J Jayalalithaa announced 50 crores to prepare the ‘Amma’ gym in the park and playground and improve existing facilities.
Many are replaced by names and new ones appear with dumbbells, EFX machines, press benches and pull machine and hydraulic rows.
Six years, a visit to the fitness center in AminjiKarai, Anna Nagar, Kilpuk, Choola, Royapuram and Korukkupet found them closed or without equipment.
The Choola market in North Chennai does not have a signboard and is used as a community hall.
The only one on Jalan 24, N block, Anna Nagar, now is a reasonable price of PDS and Godown, without sports equipment.
On the road tax road, the dead gym has damaged the bells and hydraulic machines, gathering dust for years.
The corporate indentation includes treadmills and cycling machines but no gyms visited by TOI.
There is no toilet, water tap, instructor or gym staff.
In many places, these keys with regional residents who use the gym every day.
While officials said that there was no centralized funds allocated for maintenance, RTI replies given by the company for Arappor Iakkam volunteer Naveen Rajan T showed 20 lakh sanctions in 2020 to maintain four gyms in the Thiruvottiyur zone.
The corporation in another RTI reply said 2.6 Crore was allocated for the gym in Madhavaram, but the audit by activists did not find equipment there.
“We don’t know how the funds used.
Only poor people who might need this fitness center, are affected,” said Naveen.
Corporate officials said the fitness center was mostly renovated and maintained through MLA funds.
“Once we open and place equipment, maintenance is only a need.
If the zone is looking for funds for renovation, we provide.
If not, they renovate or buy equipment with MLA funds,” Panbarasan said, an executive engineer assistant with the park department.
Under Nalamigu Chennai, the component of Singara Chennai, the corporation has installed equipment in a park managed by private contractors and 29 parks now has fitness equipment.
“Up to 50 crores it is likely to be allocated to prepare more parks.
We plan to expand this project and the progress of the tender is ongoing,” Panbaran said.