By Raju Vernekar
Mumbai, Feb 19:
A total 176 cyclists from Thane and Mumbai region joined HindAyan’s Thane-Mumbai expedition, a multi state cycling race cum expedition, via Bandra Worli Sea Link in North West Mumbai, on Saturday.
HindAyan India’s first long distance cycling race –cum- expedition, which started on February 05, from the National War Memorial, Delhi, travelled through Agra, Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Gandhinagar and Surat, Thane. Next destination will be Pune. The cycling team which comprises Indian Army and Navy cyclists have cycled from Delhi – Agra – Jaipur – Bhilwara – Udaipur – Gandhinagar – Surat – Thane and Mumbai.
On Saturday the 8th leg of the expedition started from Thane and ended at the NCPA, Nariman Point in South Mumbai. In a rare event, cyclists received permission from authorities to ride on the Bandra Worli Sea Link.
Thane Municipal Commissionerate’s Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Sports) Minal Palande flagged off the expedition from Thane Municipal Corporation headquarters.
As part of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav, cyclists from the Armed forces visited a local school- Saraswati Vidyalaya High School & Junior College in Thane, where they were welcomed by the principal, staff and students. Later, they interacted with the students and shared their experiences from the Army to students and educated them about “how they can join the Armed forces”.
At present, India does not have a long distance cycling race, hence members of Olympic Team, National Cycling Team, Adventure Cells of State Police and Adventure Cells of Armed Forces have to go to the US, UK and France to participate in the long distance cycling race.
‘Hence, in order to promote the culture of cycling and give an opportunity to our cycling teams to practice outdoors, we have organised the ”HindAyan”, an annual multi stage cycling race under ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ said Vishnudas Chapke, organizer who is the first Indian to circumnavigate the globe overland travelling through 35 countries on five continents.
“HindAyan” received special permission from Uttar Pradesh State Government to cycle Delhi to Agra on Yamuna Expressway which is otherwise forbidden for anything below four-wheeler. Last time, IAF’s fighter jet was an exception, to touch down the Yamuna Expressway. It was an expedition and the common maximum speed of the group touched 53 kmph,’ said organizer Vishnudas Chapke
The race is limited to the countryside. The NHAI has concurred “Approval in Principle” to organize the race on the Express / National Highways. With the help of the Local Superintendent of Police and District Administration, roads will be designated for the race. In urban areas, it will be termed as an expedition and not a race.
On Sunday, Hindayan Team will leave for Pune, where the long distance race cut expedition will culminate.