Dino Morea may set up open-air gymnasium in Bengaluru

A close associate of Bollywood actor and fitmess enthusiast Dino Morea, whose open-air gyms on Marine Drive was removed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has said the actor is contemplating setting up an open-air gym in Bengaluru.

Mr Morea is in touch with Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and the Bengaluru civic body officials for setting up the gym in Benguluru, the associate said.

The BMC had refused to extend permission to the DM Gym on Marine Drive, which Mr Morea had set up in association with Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray.

Mr Morea had set up the open-air gyms in June last year, which was inaugurated by Mr Thackeray. However, they were removed by the BMC in December 2015, as a panel appointed by the Bombay high court had rejected permission to DM Gym at Marine Drive.

There are 12 open air fitness stations called ‘Dino Morea Fitness’ across Mumbai, out of which the Marine Drive gymnasium was the only one removed. After this incident, Mr Morea came into contact with the Karnataka chief minister and he later decided to set up an open air gym in Bengaluru, the associate said on condition of anonymity. “During his recent trip to Bengaluru for a business venture, Mr Morea had received a wonderful response from the people of Bengaluru, who not just praised his ‘Get Fit’ campaign but also asked him if he could launch the same in Bengaluru as well,” said the associate. However, Mr Morea did not respond to text messages seeking his comment.