BMC plans `12-cr revamp for Chembur pool

Four years after it was shut down, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally decided to revamp the municipal swimming pool in Chembur.

Four years after it was shut down, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has finally decided to revamp the municipal swimming pool in Chembur.

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Named after General Arunkumar Vaidya, the revamp of the pool is expected to cost Rs12 crore. A budget provision of Rs9 crore has been made in this year’s budget.

Standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said the repair work would include an Olympic-size swimming pool, a mini-sports club, a filtration plant and better parking facilities for members.

“We usually receive complaints that the water quality at civic-run swimming pools is very poor. The filtration plant at Chembur ensure that the pool water is as per the set guidelines,” said Shewale.

Meanwhile, the state of other six swimming pools in the city is not very different. The only functional swimming pool at Ghatkopar was shut down last week after the filtration plant in the pool failed.

The BMC once had eight swimming pools in the city. However, the five that are functional — Andheri, Goregaon, Mulund and Parle — have been handed over to private trusts and charge exorbitant fees.

Although the pool at Shivaji Park was to re-open by May 15, delay in construction had pushed the deadline to the end of the month. The BMC spent over Rs50 crore on the pool.