More than a decade after their installation, some outdoor gyms in Thimphu are showing signs of wear, with users reporting damaged equipment and safety concerns. While residents are calling for regular maintenance and clearer safety information, Thimphu Thromde says they respond to reported issues and carry out repairs when needed.
A rope hangs from a metal bar, tied firmly to the frame. At the bottom is a small wooden seat. At first glance, it looks like an ordinary swing, perhaps part of a small neighbourhood playground.
However, on closer look, the rope is tied to the push-up bar of an outdoor gym.
With some of the original equipment damaged or no longer usable, children, and sometimes their parents, have turned the metal frame into a swing.
The gym equipment, installed to encourage people to exercise and stay active, is now being used for something entirely different.
Nearby, children climb, play and move around on the other gym equipment. When the outdoor gyms were first established, notice boards instructed children below the age of ten not to use the facilities.
Elsewhere, more equipment stands rusted and weathered. Some machines are missing parts, others are broken, while many have simply been left idle.
For people who regularly use these outdoor gyms, the condition of the equipment is becoming a safety concern.
Neelam Darjee, a resident of Babesa, said, “I come here most evenings after work to exercise. It is quite refreshing. But some of the machines have been broken for quite some time. People still come here to exercise, but I feel the damaged equipment can be risky and unsafe. I hope the authorities will look into it and take the necessary action.”
“Since I stay nearby, my child often insists on coming here. Some of the machines are unstable, posing a threat to children playing nearby. It would be good if the concerned authorities could look into it,” said Tara Devi Chhetri, another resident.
The Ministry of Health installed around 13 outdoor gyms in Thimphu in 2015.
Users say they rarely see maintenance work carried out, and some damaged equipment has remained unrepaired for a long time.
A regular at the gym, Rinchen Dorji Tshering said, “The broken equipment discourages people from coming here to exercise. Regular maintenance would benefit users living in nearby areas.”
Thimphu Thromde is now responsible for maintaining and repairing the facilities.
The Thromde says it responds when residents report damaged or unsafe equipment, generally on the same day, and carries out repairs when necessary.
However, it says it has not received any complaints or reports of injuries or accidents related to outdoor gym equipment since the last maintenance work in 2024.
Residents are asked to report damaged equipment in person or through the Thromde’s social media platforms.
The Thromde also says it currently has no plans to install new outdoor gyms.
For regular users, however, keeping the existing facilities safe may be just as important as providing new ones.
They say regular inspections, timely repairs and safety instructions could help ensure these public spaces remain safe places to exercise.
Anita Chhetri
Edited by Sangay Chezom
