Govt. swimming pool awaits inauguration for over five months

Newly constructed Government Swimming Pool in Saradambal Nagar remains non-functional despite completion over five months ago.

Residents and swimming enthusiasts have been eagerly awaiting the inauguration of a newly constructed Government Swimming Pool, the first such facility in the city at Saradambal Nagar here. However, despite being completed over five months ago, the facility remains non-functional.

The Department of Sports and Youth Services had proposed the construction of a government swimming pool with all facilities at Saradambal Nagar under the Khelo India scheme at a cost of ₹5 crore. The work began in March 2019 and the Department had set a deadline of June 6, 2020, for the completion of the pool.

“Though the Union Government had released the first instalment of ₹2 crore for the project, the delay in releasing the second instalment held up the project. However, the Puducherry government submitted the Utilisation Certificate for the first instalment to the Centre. The problem compounded when the contractor abandoned the project citing non-release of funds and sought foreclosure. Subsequently, the work was foreclosed on April 18, 2022,” according to a PWD official.

The Department of Sports and Youth Services earned the wrath of the locals following which fresh tenders were issued for completion of the project.

The project cost was subsequently revised to ₹5.52 crore and after much dilly-dallying the work was taken up and completed last year. The swimming pool is now ready for training. However, there is no clarity on when the facility will be thrown open for public use.

C. Karthikeyan, a resident said that using pools in private clubs comes at a heavy price. “Budding swimmers preparing for swimming competitions have to either travel to Chennai or shell out monthly fees for private pools to train for the sport due to the lack of government-funded pools in the city. When we enquired about the delay in opening the swimming pool, officials said that there was some issues. The facility should be immediately opened, he said.

An official in the Department of Sports and Youth Services said the construction work had been completed. However, an approach road to connect to the facility is yet to be ready. The Department has to float fresh tenders for laying the approach road, which is estimated to cost ₹3 crore. The work will be completed in three months and the Department has planned to open the facility for public use by June.