DDA to have free open-air gymnasiums in 50 parks

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Officials said the open gymnasium concept will gradually be implemented in all 50 parks owned by the DDA. The equipment will include air walkers, sit-up benches, air swings, stair steppers, leg presses, pull-up chairs, parallel bars, chest presses, bench presses, poles with dumb bells, treadmills and cross-walkers. All these have been purchased from a private company in Noida. To begin with, the concept as a sample has been introduced in Dwarka’s Sector 10 park.

The DDA maintains nearly 12,000 acres of green area in Delhi, spread across 882 huge and small parks. It spends over Rs 300 crore annually on their maintenance.

Asked about how the equipment will be kept safe, an official said all machines will be tamper-proof and will be clamped onto concrete slabs, making it impossible to move them manually. “These equipment are tamper-proof and it will take a heavy machine — like a crane — to move them. They are also rain proof,” an official said.

Officials said guards posted at parks will conduct frequent checks to ensure that the machines are being used in the right manner and not being tampered with. “Since guards and DDA caretakers will be doing rounds, women’s security will also be ensured. Also, most of these parks are used by morning or evening walkers,” the official said.