Members Fume as BMC Wadala Swimming Pool Remains Closed for Over Three Months

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) swimming pool in Wadala, which was inaugurated with great enthusiasm in August last year, has been closed for maintenance since July 10. Members are expressing their frustration as they have been unable to access the facility for over three months, despite being initially told that repairs would take only 10 to 15 days.

Many members are outraged, claiming their membership fees have been wasted. They noted that the pool, which had been well-maintained in its early months, quickly fell into disrepair. Reports of unclean water led to skin infections for some, and washroom facilities were also poorly maintained.

Archana Chourasiya, a Wadala resident who enrolled on September 4, 2023, stated, “I paid ₹8,410 for an annual membership, eager to learn swimming. I was satisfied initially, but the situation deteriorated. I developed a skin allergy due to the contaminated water and had to stop swimming.”

Other members echoed her concerns, lamenting that they had made necessary payments but were left without access to the pool. Many families, including children from underprivileged backgrounds, relied on the Wadala pool as an affordable option for swimming. With its closure, several have had to seek alternatives, such as the Dadar swimming pool, also managed by the BMC.

Afsar Rasool Khan expressed his disappointment, saying, “The Wadala pool was just a five-minute walk from my house. Traveling to Dadar takes at least half an hour. If this facility was built for the public, why isn’t it being properly maintained?” He also highlighted the overcrowding at the Dadar pool, where prospective members face long waiting periods to enroll.

The enthusiasm surrounding the Wadala pool's opening has been overshadowed by ongoing maintenance issues, leaving many members feeling frustrated and disheartened as they find themselves back at square one.