Bhubaneswar: Cyclists from across the globe accompanied by youngsters, film stars and activists, pedalled along the Konark-Puri marine drive Sunday to promote the eco-friendly mode of transport in and around tourist destinations in the state.
Around 500 riders covered a stretch of 40km as part of the event, Konark Cyclothon, hosted by city-based organisation, Roots of Odisha Foundation.
Apart from cyclists from the state, the rally included around 10 riders from Austria, Canada and the USA and 100 cyclists from various states across the country.
“The Konark-Puri marine drive is one of the prime attractions for tourists. It is not only home to a number of endangered plant and animal species, the ecosystem also has abundant resources that sustain the livelihood of fishermen, farmers and people associated with tourism. There could be no better place for the rally,” said event convener Sudhir Dash.
A number of prominent personalities, including Odia film star and MP Siddhanta Mohapatra, actress Anu Choudhury, international sand artist Sudharshan Pattnaik, cyclist and Arjuna awardee Minati Mohapatra were part of the ride, The Telegraph reported.
“There is a need to promote cycling around heritage sites considering their importance to the ecology, economy and human health,” said Siddhanta Mohapatra who is also one of the ambassadors of the event.
State tourism and culture minister Ashok Panda was also present during the start of the journey. “The marathon will help create awareness about the eco-friendly mode of transport. Such events would also highlight the tourism sites of Odisha on a global platform,” said the minister.
For social activist Sujit Mahapatra, the ride was enriching. “It feels great when you ride for a cause. The early morning ride was refreshing and I also made friends with cyclists from other places,” said Mahapatra.
A programme was conducted at Muktakash Rangmanch, the amphitheatre in Puri, after the end of the journey to felicitate the cyclists. The organisors plan to conduct similar events at various other spots in the state.
“There are a number of beautiful places in the state that have not been explored. We will highlight such places in the upcoming marathons,” said Sudhir Dash.