Now, AU hostels to get open-air gymnasiums
PRAYAGRAJ : Inmates of different hostels of Allahabad University (AU) can expect a free gift in the new academic session once they return after reopening of the hostels presently closed in the light of the pandemic.
If all goes as per plans, openair gyms will come up at select hostels under the Smart City project in Sangam city wherein various equipment for exercising would be installed in the open grounds of hostels and which the inmates would be able to use free of cost.
Under the Smart City project, the Prayagraj Nagar Nigam (PNN) has already started setting up these open-air gyms at different prominent crossings of the city as well as on sides of important roads. Such gyms have also been established in several prominent parks of the city.
Despite corona crisis, many morning walkers and locals can be spotted using these exercising equipment at the open-air gyms. On the other hand, attending gym on daily basis is very popular in the AU hostels and for this the inmates usually pay from their own pockets to visit and use facilities of private establishments. “The process of setting up open-air gyms and basketball courts at different hostels is on the cards. We hope these would become popular with the students”, said public relations officer, AU, Jaya Kapoor.
“Five to 12 equipment will be installed on the empty space in the hostels as part of the initiative. The open-air gym will have a sit up bench, double pull chair, double chest press, standing best trainer best, bicycle, double leg press, double solder wheel, parallel bar, rowing machine, scaling ladder and chin up and dipping equipment,” said PNN officials aware of the plans.
“These equipment would also be installed at some of the prominent places inside the varsity campus. The vast campus of AU is also used by several students and teaching faculty members for morning walk and if these equipment for simple exercises are fitted at some locations, the same would be very useful for these teachers and students,” they added. Apart from this, basketball courts will also be constructed for the inmates of these hostels.
“Officials associated with the Smart City project have prepared a detailed plan for this and their team has also started the survey process in this regard in hostels. After completion of the survey, budget will be allocated, and tender will be floated. After this, the process for installing equipment at open-air gym and construction of basketball court will be expedited,” PNN officials said.