Allahabad: Preparations for Indira marathon in full swing – Times of India

ALLAHABAD: Top long-distance runners of the country are expected to participate in the 35th all-India prize money Indira marathon (42.195 km) scheduled to be held here on November 19. The marathon is an annual event organised under the aegis of Uttar Pradesh Sports Directorate and district administration in memory of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Chief Development Officer (CDO), Prem Ranjan Singh informed that top distance runners of the country will fight it out for top honours. He said the district administration has made eloborate arrangement for the event and assured better traffic control this time.
The marathon will be flagged off from the historical Anand Bhawan gate at 6.30 am. The participants will race will past Teliarganj, Mayo Hall crossing, High Court, CMP College, SHIUAT, New Yamuna bridge, Hanuman Mandir up to the end point at Madan Mohan Malviya stadium.
The runners will run with the computer chip attached to their shoes or clothes. He said as per the rule of Athletics Federation of India (AFI) the chip has een made mandatory in marathon. These chips will record the timing of the runners. Besides, the entire route and the run would be monitored through the network of CCTV, including the installed on major crossings of the city.
“In our arrangements, NCC cadets would be stationed at each kilometre with the indicator showing the exact distance of the given point”, said the CDO.
The Indira Marathon is being organised since 1985 on the birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi. The first marathon was flagged off by the then state chief minister Vir Bahadur Singh while prime minister Rajiv Gandhi gave away the prizes. The inaugural race was won by Swaroop Singh and Rachna Govil respectively. Last year titles were won by Shanvaru (men) and Joyti Shankar Gawate (female). Joyti would be participating in the run for her fourth straight win.
Registration for the run has commenced so has the preparations by the authorities. There would be traffic restriction on the marathon route and there would be arrangements of refreshment on the way.
Till Friday, around 2400 runners have registered for the run