COIMBATORE: Continuing its push to strengthen sports infrastructure in the city, the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has proposed the construction of two large swimming pools within the VOC Park premises at an estimated Rs 6 crore. The initiative is part of a series of projects aimed at providing better facilities for both sports enthusiasts and professional athletes in Coimbatore.
According to civic officials, the two swimming pools will serve distinct purposes. One will be a public pool, allowing residents to access a safe and well-maintained swimming facility within the city. The second will be a sports-oriented pool, dedicated exclusively to training for competitive events and participating in tournaments. The project is expected to address the long-standing demand for quality swimming infrastructure, particularly for athletes who currently lack government-operated specialised training facilities.
The proposed swimming pools add to the list of sports projects currently being undertaken by the CCMC near VOC Park and Nehru Stadium. The civic body has already begun construction of an indoor volleyball court at Rs 2 crore near Nehru Stadium, along with a kabaddi court costing Rs 2.5 crore, which is being developed with contributions from private parties.
These facilities are intended to support local players who have so far been forced to train in limited or shared spaces. In addition, CCMC has completed the construction of an international-standard hockey stadium at RS Puram, which will be formally inaugurated soon.
Officials say the swimming pool reflects the CCMC's broader vision of promoting sports culture across age groups and skill levels. The civic body is also exploring funding options to commence work at the earliest opportunity. Under Namakku Naame, the CCMC has already received Rs 50 lakh through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from a private company and is assessing the feasibility of using this amount to construct at least one of the two proposed pools soon.
Speaking to TNIE, CCMC Commissioner M. Sivaguru Prabakaran said that construction activities for the volleyball and kabaddi courts are progressing at full speed. "Works near the Nehru Stadium are being carried out in full swing. Apart from these, two new swimming pools are planned inside the VOC Park premises at a cost of Rs 6 crore," he added.