Here is a happy news for those who find the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor as the perfect jogging spot. The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) has come up with an idea that could help the fitness freaks: a modern open-air gymnasium on the Stadium premises.
Aimed at preventing lifestyle diseases, the modern gymnasium will be open for the public in two months. The public can use the gym that will have all the modern fitness outdoor equipment, free of cost.
The facility, which is the first-of-its-kind in India, will be opened to the public within two months.
The gym will be set up with the help of New Delhi-based NGO, Wellness Circle, and will come up on the 15 cents of land on the left side of the Stadium premises.
The project was conceived as part of observation of World Health Day, said Dr M A Babu, consultant of the project. “The major aim of setting up the gym is to create a healthy Kochi and to lure more people to regular exercise. We have already banned vehicular traffic around the Stadium from morning 5.30 to 7 .30 am as nearly 2,000 people use the premises for walking and running. Hence, the WHO project consultant Dr Babu mooted the proposal of launching the project which will be a great help not only to fitness freaks but also to those who are not able to afford the luxury of fitness clubs and gymnasiums,” said GCDA chairman N Venugopal.
He said Wellness Circle will provide the equipment for the gym along with the service of instructors. “The telephone numbers of instructors will be displayed at the gymnasium which will have a fencing around. If the instructors are not present at the gymnasium, the visitors can dial these numbers and they will get necessary tips over the phone or in person,” Venugopal added.
He said that the facility will be expanded in future according to the public response. “If more people use the facility, we will increase the floor area,” he said.
The fitness centre is expected to be of great help as the number of those who suffer from lifestyle diseases including blood pressure, diabetes and obesity is increasing day by day, Venugopal added.