Ludhiana: Even one year after construction was completed, the Ludhiana municipal corporation (MC) has failed to make its ₹5.82-crore all-weather indoor swimming pool near Rakh Bagh operational. After initially citing delays in securing an electricity connection, civic authorities are now struggling to hire a private contractor to handle the facility’s operations and maintenance.The civic body’s building and road (B&R) branch made three unsuccessful attempts to engage private operators. Responsibility for hiring a contractor has now been handed over to the MC’s operation and maintenance (O&M) wing.Built under the Smart City Mission to fulfill a decade-long demand from local residents, the facility was designed to offer year-round swimming, unlike the existing MC pool which operates only in summer.The Olympic-sized indoor facility measures 160 feet in length and 80 feet in width, with depths ranging from 6 feet to 18 feet. It features advanced water filtration technology and temperature-control systems. The appointed private firm will also be responsible for deploying age-group coaches.Addressing the delay, MC superintending engineer Sham Lal Gupta stated that the power connection was delayed due to formalities with the electricity department, adding that the O&M cell will now manage the contractor hiring process.Mayor Inderjit Kaur highlighted the need for specialised management, stating, “This pool requires a professional contractor as recently some tiles got damaged and it was with great difficulty we could fix those. When there will be a professional person he will handle everything.”
