Gym owners want Delhi Govt and DDMA to open gyms at 50% capacity

The fitness industry and gyms owners in the national capital want the Delhi government and Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to open gyms at 50% capacity for doubly vaccinated people. On January 27, the Delhi government decided to lift the weekend curfew and odd even curbs for markets.

Restaurants and bars have been allowed to operate at 50% capacity with cases dropping in the capital. Cinema halls, multiplexes and theatres have also been allowed to operate at 50% capacity.

"So many states in India have not closed gyms even for a day. It has been a month now and every time a wave comes gyms are the first to be closed. Over 100,000 people are associated with the industry in Delhi. The landlords don't want to give their premises to the fitness industry. The people don't want to work as they get salary cuts. None is making money here," said Vikas Jain, MD of Anytime Fitness that has 35 outlets in Delhi.


"Gyms work on building immunity. We have seen people who have been healthier have been less critically ill compared to the ones who have had comorbidities and underlying conditions. This industry should be looked at par with others and if the government wants to revise SOPs and open gyms only for doubly vaccinated people, we can follow that," he added.

On January 20, the Delhi Gym Association wrote to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal stating the fitness industry was on the verge of going bankrupt. "This time we do not have any money to pay for rent, fixed electricity, water charges and supporting salary for staff. We do not understand why gyms are considered the breeding ground for Corona when no case of a Coronavirus outbreak has been found in any gym across the world," stated the letter signed by Delhi Gym Association president Bhupender Kumar, and vice presidents Chirag Sethi and Prateek Choudhary.

"We request the DDMA and the Delhi government to let us open our gyms at 50% capacity for doubly vaccinated people as the same has been done by West Bengal, Haryana and even the Maharashtra government No outbreak of Corona from gyms is seen in any of the states," the letter added.