The sports ministry’s flagship initiative, Fit India, is set to launch two cycling expeditions criss-crossing the length and breadth of the sub-continent, titled Iron Wheels of Unity from October 31, to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
The Kashmir to Kanyakumari (K2K) cycling expedition will cover a staggering 4,480 km, starting from Srinagar on October 31 and passing through Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, before concluding in Kanyakumari on November 16. A total of 150 riders will participate, symbolically honouring the 150th birth anniversary of the Iron Man of India.
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Mountaineer Nisha Kumari, who scaled Mount Everest on May 17, 2023, and cycled from India to London to promote the “Change Before Climate Change” campaign, will lead the K2K expedition.
The second expedition, Pedal to Plant, will cover 4,000 km from Pangsau, Arunachal Pradesh, through Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, culminating in Mundra, Gujarat, on December 31. Along the route, participants will plant 100,000 saplings and conduct fitness and climate awareness sessions in schools and colleges.
Commenting on the expeditions, Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, “I would like to extend my best wishes to the cyclists who are participating in the Fit India Iron Wheels of Unity campaign. This is being organised as a tribute to our great freedom fighter and statesman Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.”
“Our Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants our citizens to become fitter and healthier. This initiative will only amplify that vision and create awareness about adopting an active lifestyle. As I have said previously, cycling is a great way to maintain fitness and is a solution to pollution. I would urge every Indian to take up cycling and dedicate at least 30 minutes to 1 hour towards their own fitness,” he added.
Building on the Fit India Sundays on Cycle movement started by Mandaviya, the Iron Wheels of Unity is expected to reduce carbon emissions by 100,000 kilograms, reinforcing Fit India’s commitment to environmental sustainability.