Chandigarh to float tender for 37,000 yoga mats, 40 LED screens

THE CHANDIGARH Administration has decided to procure around 37,000 yoga mats and around 40 LED screens for the second International Yoga Day to be held in the city on June 21 in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate.

A tender will be floated by the administration in the next few days. The engineering wing of the administration on Tuesday carried out a survey by contacting the suppliers based in Delhi to ascertain the tentative price of both the items. Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal also saw some samples of the mats.

Aggarwal said they were planning to procure around 37,000 mats of different bright colours and around 40 LEDs, which would be installed at the venue. “The engineering department has been asked to float the tender for selecting a company for supplying both the items,” he said.

The event is being organised by the Chandigarh Administration in collaboration with state governments of Punjab and Haryana. The Ministry of Ayush will fund the event on which around Rs 8 crore is expected to be spent.

After yoga mats sourced from China made news in the inaugural International Yoga Day held in Delhi last year, the Chandigarh Administration will ensure that all the mats to be procured are manufactured in India.

Aware of the controversy surrounding the mats used last year, Aggarwal said that they would procure Indian-made mats only.
The administration has shortlisted two venues — Capitol Complex and Botanical Garden — for the event. The venue is expected to be finalised in the next few days.

Public information centre

FOR smooth conduct of the event, the administration has decided to set up a public information centre at Brahmrishi Yoga Training College. For answering queries of the residents about the event, a helpline number will also be launched which will function from the centre.

1,000 volunteers to be trained

BRAHMRISHI Yoga Training College will impart training to a total of 1,000 volunteers, who will further hold one-month-long training camps in different parts of the city, starting from May 21, under the supervision of Dr Dinesh Brahmachari. Camps will be organised in schools, community centres and parks.

Committees constituted

THE administration on Tuesday constituted around seven committees for organising the event. Steering committee comprising UT adviser and chief secretaries of both Punjab and Haryana government will be headed by the secretary, Ministry of Ayush. The other committees formed include yoga organising committee, site management committee, media committee, transport committee and security committee.