Loose tiles at Noida open gyms prompt repair call from residents

Loose and broken tiles at open gyms in Jalvayu Vihar’s Sectors 21 and 25, and in Sector 71, have residents worried about falls among the people who use them most: children and senior citizens.

Hema Puri, director of the Jalvayu Vihar Sector Association Society, said complaints about the two gyms had been pending for seven to eight months. Residents say the damaged flooring has made users trip and fall.

At the Sector 71 playground gym, several tiles are broken and some equipment is damaged or barely functional, said Sunil Wadhwa, general secretary of the Sector 71 B Block RWA. The gym is around five to six years old.

Prashant Singh, assistant director in the Noida Authority’s horticulture department, said flooring at several older open gyms has deteriorated after prolonged rain and extreme heat. He said some sites use material better suited to indoor gyms, which may last only three to four years outdoors.

The Authority has floated tenders for new flooring, Singh said, and expects work to start within the next month. Repairs to gym equipment are also underway.