Chandigarh’s 2nd all-weather pool to be ready by year-end

City residents may have access to another all-weather swimming pool by the end of the year. Announced in 2019, the work to convert the Sector 39 swimming pool into the city’s second all-weather facility under the Sports Department has started.

The work to install the heat pumps is likely to be completed by next month, while the civil work will follow thereafter.

“The concrete base for installing the (four) heat pumps has been started, and it will be connected with the internal panel (heating plant) soon. The water will be filled to its full capacity and the temperature (matched to body temperature) will be checked. The civil work inside the pool will also start soon, and the project is likely to complete this year,” added a person privy to the matter.

When complete, it will be the second such facility operated by the Sports Department. The authority currently operates one all-weather pool (Sector 23), while other all-weather facilities are located at Panjab University Campus (for university trainees and members) along with other private institutions including the one at the Chandigarh Golf Club.

However, there have been concerns about whether the facility will cater to the professional swimmers given its shallow depth.

Project conceived in 2019

The project, which was announced in 2019, got a major push last year. It was initially discussed to convert some pools from 25m to 50m, but after taking experts’ opinion, the plan was dropped.

Following that, the UT Administration in January this year approved a rough estimate of Rs 1,77,80,533 submitted by the Engineering Department to convert an existing indoor facility into an all-weather facility. The estimate included operations for five years and comprehensive maintenance cost for four years after deducting the liability period of one year.

The Sector 39 Sports Complex had been inaugurated in November 2019 by the then Administrator VP Singh Badnore. The complex was built at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore and spread over 1.65 acres. It housed a 25m indoor swimming pool, a multi-purpose hall (now converted into a chess coaching centre) and a yoga centre. A basketball court and a volleyball court were also proposed at the site, but the plan never took off.