City takes the fit route with a workout in the park

Corporation opens the ninth leisure-cum-open gym park at Yogalakshmi Nagar
Close on the heels of good response to the leisure-cum-open gym park concept, the Tiruchi City Corporation has begun works on setting up of yet another park-cum-open gym at Yogalakshmi Nagar in Srirangam.

It will be the ninth park of this nature in the city. The corporation has open gyms at places like Vayalur Road, Central Bus Stand, Kalmettu Street in Srirangam, Chinnasamy and Mahatma Gandhi Park, Thillai Nagar Park and Burma Colony. It will be the second open gym in Srirangam. Construction of yoga centre will be a unique component of the park.

Besides facilities for brisk walk, the gym will have leg thigh exerciser, push and pull chair, elliptical exerciser, single pole rowing, chest press, Tai Chi wheel, big wheel, AB trainer, twister, pull up bar, parallel up bar, Roman rings and fitness equipment.

Commissioner cum Special Officer N. Ravichandran told The Hindu that the park was being constructed under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). It would cost around ₹57 lakh. Share of the Central and State governments would be 50% and 30% of the total cost. The Tiruchi Corporation would bear the remaining 20 %.

A walking track with paver block would be laid around the park for facilitating the morning and evening walkers. In addition to providing basic amenities such as reverse osmosis drinking water plant and toilet complex, landscaping would be done to make it green and eye catching. Ten stone benches would be created. Construction of compound wall, security room and toilet complex have been completed. Erection of playing materials would be taken up in a few days.

Yogalakshmi Nagar had been chosen to facilitate the people mainly children and elders living in various apartments on Melur Road. Instructions have been given to the officials to complete the works within two to three weeks.

Based on a number of representations to extend the facility to various areas, new leisure-cum-open air gym parks had been sanctioned at Sanjeevi Nagar, AIBOA colony, Anandha Avenue and Dr. Renganathan Park. Construction activities have also begun, Mr. Ravichandran added.

Source