Open gyms' rusty equipment pose injury threat to users in Pune

PUNE: Rusty and broken equipment of open gyms posing injury threat to users in some pockets of the city paint a sorry picture of their upkeep, triggering posers on the viability of the civic body's project.
Damaged equipment at the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)'s several open gyms keep fitness freaks at bay from them. Several residents are cut up with the rickety single chest presses, cross-trainers, inversion machines, push bars, single-seated pullers, sitting and standing twisters, and surf boards unnecessarily occupying public space, footpaths, gardens, sports grounds and community halls.

The rusty air walkers, Tai-Chi spinners, benches with fixed dumbbell and pommel horses are also drawing the attention of criminals.Their parts were allegedly stolen in some places and sold off as scrap.
Karan Khatavkar from Guruganeshnagar in Kothrud told TOI, "The concept of open gym is very good. But the civic body's authorities must pay attention to their maintenance. We see many gym equipment lying unattended."
Swati Choudhari from Warje said, "The broken parts of fitness equipment are dangerous for everyone. Not only youngsters, children also use them. The damaged equipment can cause injuries to them."
PMC officials said that special attention was given to the upkeep of the open gyms in this financial year's municipal budget. "The garden and sports departments have been instructed to maintain the facilities. Around Rs1.5 crore has been set aside for improving the condition of these gyms," said PMC administrator Vikram Kumar.
The civic activists and citizens' groups had questioned the open gym project of PMC, prompting the civic body to geo-tag them. The civic administration spent around Rs20 crore on the scheme in the last four years.
Balasaheb Ostwal, a former corporator of PMC, said, "These facilities have been left unattended without proper maintenance. The civic officials should set up a system for checking the condition of the open gyms."