In a significant boost to sports infrastructure, budding swimmers in the district are set to receive two new seasonal swimming pools. According to a report by The Tribune, the new facilities aim to provide local training grounds for athletes who previously had to travel long distances or rely solely on the often-crowded all-weather facility in Ambala Cantonment.
Project Details & Locations Ambala Officiating District Sports Officer (DSO) Ramswaroop Sharma confirmed that the construction of both pools is complete, and they will be handed over to the Sports Department after final testing.
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Ambala City: A 50-meter, 10-lane seasonal pool has been constructed by the Haryana Shehri Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) at the local stadium.
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Cost: Approximately ₹8.30 crore.
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Naraingarh: A 25-meter, 5-lane seasonal pool has been built by the PWD (B&R) at the Baragarh Sports Stadium.
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Cost: Approximately ₹5 crore.
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Strategic Benefit for Athletes Currently, Ambala has around 250 trained swimmers, including 80 state and national-level competitors. The new pools will operate during the season (April to October), allowing the existing all-weather Olympic-standard pool at the War Heroes Memorial Stadium (Ambala Cantonment) to serve as a specialized hub during the off-season.
Operational Challenges While the infrastructure is ready, the report highlights that staffing remains a challenge. The existing all-weather pool in the Cantonment has been operating with curtailed timings due to the expiry of its operations tender in March 2025. The department plans to float a new tender at the headquarters level to engage coaches, lifeguards, and support staff for all three facilities to ensure they are fully functional by the upcoming season.
