GUJRAT: The project of establishing gyms in two parks of the city could not be completed despite spending more than Rs10 million in the last one and a half years and slackness of the Gujrat Tehsil Municipal Administration is a major cause behind the delay.

The TMA had launched the project in the Nawaz Sharif Park by allocating a sum of Rs7 million in 2012 on the direction of the then commissioner of Gujranwala, Abdul Jabbar Shaheen.

Basketball, badminton, table tennis courts would also be a part of the project besides modern equipment for exercise, bodybuilding and weightlifting.

The construction of another mini-gymnasium for women had also been started at the same time in the Ladies and Children Park, Ramtalai Road, as the TMA had allocated Rs5 million funds for the project. The structure of the mini-gymnasium had been left unfurnished.

The infrastructure of both these sports facilities was completed long time back but the projects were yet not given final touches and the machinery was not installed.

A TMA official told Dawn that the projects had been executed but keeping in view the irresponsible attitude of the citizens, especially the youth, it was a general impression in the official circles that such projects could never prove successful. He added that this apprehension of the officials regarding the safety and security of the machinery at the open gym had also been a major hurdle to giving the project a final touch.

Khuram Tarehngi, Gujrat tehsil municipal officer, said that the construction of both the gyms had almost been completed and they were only to be given the final shape besides installation of the exercise equipment and other necessary facilities. He said watchmen deputed at the public parks would be responsible of security of the gyms and safety of the equipment.