Delay in the opening of the swimming pool and gymnasium has disappointed members of the Dharavi Sports Complex; District Sports Authority says repairs are underway
Seven months after its inauguration, the Dharavi Sports Complex (DSC) is yet to become fully operational, thanks to the shoddy construction work that is delaying the opening of the swimming pool and gymnasium.
Leaks are believed to be the cause behind the delay in throwing open the Dharavi Sports Complex’s swimming pool to its members. Pic/Suresh K K
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Built by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) at a cost of Rs 23 crore and operated by the District Sports Authority (DSA), the complex’s swimming pool and gymnasium are yet to be thrown open, much to the annoyance of the members who have paid huge sums to make use of the sporting facilities.
Presently, 225 Dharavi residents avail of the facilities kickboxing, yoga, badminton and gymnastics accessible to them after payment of a lifetime membership fees ranging between Rs 3-5 lakh.
Plagued with delays
Mired in delays, the swanky complex was finally inaugurated in July last year. mid-day had published an article on the opening (‘Rs 23-crore sports complex finally inaugurated after a year’, July 21), where it was reported that the complex was inaugurated a year after its completion.
“It will be wrong to say that the complex is not operational. People are using the gymnastic, yoga, badminton and kickboxing facilities. The swimming pool admissions have been delayed because the floor of the pool was uneven and there were leakage issues. We have now rectified the same and it will be operational in a week’s time,” said a DSA official on the condition of anonymity.
Pinning the blame
MMRDA sources told this newspaper that after the complex was handed over to the DSA, the facility was not being properly maintained and one side of the compound wall, which is adjacent to the Dharavi bus depot, is filthy with mud scattered all over the narrow passage.
But when mid-day visited the complex on Monday afternoon, it was observed that the DSA has been maintaining the complex, with only one end of the facility dirty.
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