₹61 Crore Monument to Mediocrity: Vastral’s 'Sports City' Dream Drips Into a Bucket

Just three months after its inauguration, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC) ₹61 crore Vastral Sports Complex has come under scrutiny after videos showing water leakage inside the gymnasium went viral on social media, raising questions over maintenance and facility management.

Built as part of Ahmedabad’s push to strengthen its sports infrastructure ahead of major international sporting ambitions, including the Commonwealth Games and Olympics, the complex was expected to provide modern facilities for residents. However, gym users have alleged that the newly opened facility is facing basic operational problems.

A video shared by a gym member shows water dripping from the central air-conditioning system onto the gym floor, with a plastic bucket placed underneath to collect the leakage. The footage has sparked criticism among residents, who questioned how a recently inaugurated facility could face such problems within a short period.

Users Raise Concerns Over Gym Management

Apart from the water leakage, members have also raised concerns about overcrowding inside the gymnasium. According to users, the absence of a proper batch management system has resulted in 50 to 60 people arriving for workouts at the same time.

Members claim that the lack of organised scheduling has affected their ability to exercise comfortably, describing the situation as overcrowded and poorly managed.

AMC Says Technical Issue Is Being Addressed

AMC Assistant Municipal Commissioner of the Gymnasium Department Dr Tejas Bhandari said the water leakage was caused by a technical issue related to the central AC system.

“The problem has occurred due to a technical fault in the central AC, and work is underway to resolve it,” Bhandari said.

He added that the corporation would also examine the concerns regarding the number of users accessing the gym at the same time. A meeting with the concerned agency has been planned to identify measures for improving operations and preventing similar issues in the future.

Questions Over Maintenance of Civic Projects

The incident has brought renewed attention to the maintenance and monitoring of major civic projects funded through public money. Residents have called for closer supervision of infrastructure quality after completion and better systems to ensure that newly developed facilities remain functional.

For Vastral residents, the sports complex was expected to become a modern fitness and recreation centre. The early complaints have now created concerns over whether the facility can meet the expectations attached to a ₹61 crore public investment.