EXCLUSIVE: Women’s Gym Built Under Smart City Mission In Pune’s Baner Handed Over To Private Company, Residents Slam PMC (PHOTOS)

Pune Smart City Development Corporation Limited (PSCDCL), under the Pune Smart City Mission, developed multiple projects in the Aundh-Baner-Balewadi stretch. Seven different projects were launched two years ago, including a gymnasium for women, an augmented reality park, a community farming centre, a science park, a garden with models of books to encourage reading, a Smart City clinic and a swimming pool. Funds of more than ₹4 crore were spent on this. There was much excitement when Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Smart City Mission in Balewadi in 2016. However, many of the residents today feel that despite all the publicity, several things are missing from the big list of promised projects.

A gym near Pan Card Club in Baner, built under the Smart City Mission, was supposedly built for women to use free of cost. However, after the Smart City Mission transferred it to the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), the civic body leased the building to a private gym company. The residents are calling it unfair. The building, which was constructed by the PSCDCL, was handed over to the civic body, which should ideally allow the public to use it. Instead, the civic body rented the entire property to private owners who run the gym, and the charges are high. Also, it is not being used specifically for women.

"During the Budget, they play the women card, but do we really get the facility? No, it's just for namesake. Today, men, women, children —everybody — are using this gym, and that too by paying a high amount to the private gym operators. They use public money to build all these facilities, and then the public doesn't get to use them. If they want to, they have to pay the charges to the private owners of the gym. It is shameful," Kavita Raut, a resident of Baner, said.

'PMC is getting its pocket full'

"Most of the Smart City projects in Baner-Balewadi are reportedly not accessible to citizens. They give the reason that they have handed it over to PMC, and our civic body plays another game with us. They lease these properties to private owners, and we, on the other hand, have to pay again to avail the facility. I don't understand why they highlight that people would benefit from it. Clearly, we are not, but the PMC is getting its pocket full," said a resident, Ravindra Ojha.

"Baner-Balewadi area, which in 2016 was earmarked to be developed into a model neighbourhood as part of the overall Pune Smart City Mission, was supposed to have the latest infrastructure. The footpaths that we got are good, but for other facilities, we didn't get the benefits. There's no awareness either. I didn't know that the gym was operational. Even if it is, why is it being opened by a private company? PMC plans poorly. They just make buildings like hospitals, clinics and swimming pools only to run them on PPP models," said another resident, Krupa Shrinte.

'Information should be made publicly accessible'

Ravi Kumar, another resident, said, "It’s okay if the government provides certain facilities to private entities to help manage services more efficiently. However, such arrangements must be well-subsidised and transparent. For instance, when Sahayadri Hospital was recently in the news, many people only then became aware that beds were reserved for patients referred through PMC. Such critical information should be made publicly accessible to avoid any perception of collusion, especially when a facility appears private on the surface but is supported by public funds."

When Team Free Press Journal (FPJ) visited the site, they saw that the entire facility was run by a private fitness company. The equipment installed by the PSCDCL during the construction of this building was broken and thrown to the backside of the building. The equipment was weathered and rusted due to being dumped in the open. The entire building was rented to one private fitness company, which is also running various other fitness activities from other companies, like Judo, Karate, etc.

'Funds are used for other projects'

Meanwhile, when speaking to the PMC Additional Commissioner Prithviraj BP, he said, "The project was under the Smart City Mission and has now been handed over to PMC. The PMC has leased the property to a private fitness company, and the civic body is gaining the profit out of it, and the funds are used for other projects."

The Smart City Mission, a key project of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, initially included Pune among a few select cities. However, the central government decided to end this mission by June 2023. Thereafter, the PSCDCL started writing letters to the PMC to take charge of various projects. PMC has also initiated a process to take charge of different Smart City development projects.