Players demand slashing of user charges

Deepankar Sharda

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 21

After the UT Sports Department decided to slash the monthly user fee for “recreational players” enrolled with the Sector 23 Table Tennis Hall by nearly 65 per cent, the chorus to adopt a similar policy for all other stadiums in the city has grown louder.

The Sports Department had recently brought down the monthly user charges for recreational players at the Sector 23 TT Hall from Rs 1,100 to Rs 400. The decision, as per the sources, was taken following a long-pending demand of some senior citizens who visited the facility on a regular basis.

Effectively, the centre is now the lowest-charging arena among all the facilities available under the UT Sports Department.

Meanwhile, the users at other sports complexes are now demanding similar cut in the fees. The department reportedly generates decent revenue from the badminton and swimming centres, but there have been no plans to slash the monthly fees.

“There are nearly 25 players in this category (recreational) who play regularly here. Earlier, they were asked to pay Rs 1,100 per month to which they objected. They approached the higher authorities with their grievance and subsequently the fee was reduced to Rs 400,” said a Sports Department official.

“The demand to slash the fees at other centres is genuine. The word ‘recreational’ in no way refers only to senior citizens. There are many other users who fall under this category,” the official added.

A 37-year-old badminton player who practises at the Sector 43 Sports Complex said the department should offer similar facilities to all.

“Recreational category refers to all those who play only for fitness. It’s good that the department has slashed fees for table tennis players, but what is the reason for not offering similar a benefit to the players at other centres,” asked Anchal Kapoor.

A tennis player said: “There is no doubt that the department has done a great job in introducing and managing such a vast facility for sports lovers, but decisions should be made for the benefit of all the players, not just one category.”

After opening up new sports complexes in 2017, the Sports Department had imposed a sharp increase in the monthly user fees.

Fees for recreational players (per month)

Sector 42 Sports Complex  

Badminton Rs 1,200 High-tech gym Rs 1,000 Tennis Rs 1, 000

Sector 7 Sports Complex

Badminton Rs 1,200 

Sector 23 TT Hall  

Table Tennis Rs 400

Sector 34 Sports Complex  

Badminton Rs 1,320 Squash Rs 880 Table Tennis Rs 1, 100

Sector 43 Sports Complex

Badminton Rs 1,320 Squash Rs 880 Table Tennis Rs 1, 100

Lake Sports Complex 

Billiards Rs 600 Squash Rs 600 Tennis Rs 600 Table Tennis Rs 600