Nagpur Municipal Corporation to hold Unity Run Marathon from Lakadganj on October 31

Nagpur Mayor Nita Thakre said at a press conference this morning that the Nagpur Municipal Corporation will hold the "Unity Run Marathon" at 6 am on Saturday, October 31. The event will be held under National Unity Day on the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the country's first Home Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Iron Man of India.

The marathon will start from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ground (Kachchhi Visa) in Lakadganj. The civic body has organised it so that the feelings of national unity, brotherhood and social unity grow stronger among the city's people. Mayor Thakre has appealed to citizens to take part in large numbers and join in this cause of national unity.

The run will be held in six categories: 21 km open men, 10 km open men and women, 5.3 km open women, 5.3 km boys under 16, 2.5 km girls under 16, and 2.3 km for all.

Prizes have been announced to encourage the runners. The total prize money is Rs 11 lakh. There are also attractive rewards for those taking part in the fancy dress competition. The first 5,000 runners will get a medal, and all registered runners will get a certificate. The first 10 runners in each category will receive a medal, a certificate and cash prize, while all participants will receive a participation certificate.

In the 21 km open men category, the first prize is Rs 1,00,000, the second Rs 70,000, the third Rs 50,000, the fourth Rs 40,000, the fifth Rs 30,000 and the sixth Rs 20,000. Those placed seventh to tenth will get Rs 11,000. In the 10 km open men and women category, the first prize is Rs 51,000, the second Rs 31,000, the third Rs 21,000, the fourth Rs 15,000 and the fifth Rs 11,000. Those placed sixth to tenth will get Rs 5,000.

In the 5.3 km open women category, the first prize is Rs 21,000, the second Rs 15,000, the third Rs 11,000, the fourth Rs 9,000 and the fifth Rs 7,000. Those placed sixth to tenth will get Rs 5,000. In the 2.5 km race for girls under 16, the first prize is Rs 15,000, the second Rs 11,000, the third Rs 9,000 and the fourth Rs 7,000. Those placed fifth to tenth will get Rs 5,000.

The girls' 2.5 km race will start from the Kachchhi Visa ground and turn right at Satnami Nagar Chowk. It will then pass Ambedkar Chowk, Vardhaman Nagar, the M.S.E.B. office and Sudarshan Chowk, and end back at the Kachchhi Visa ground via the Satnami Nagar road.

The boys' 5.3 km race will go from the Kachchhi Visa ground through Satnami Nagar Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Vardhaman Nagar, the M.S.E.B. office, Sudarshan Chowk, Harihar Mandir, Lakadganj police station, Satranjipura, Keta Colony, Telephone Exchange Chowk and Chhapru Nagar Chowk. It will then end at the Kachchhi Visa ground via Ambedkar Chowk and the Satnami Nagar road. The open women's 5.3 km race follows the same route.

The 10 km run will go from the Kachchhi Visa ground through Satnami Nagar Chowk, Ambedkar Chowk, Shastri Nagar Chowk, Vaishnodevi Chowk, Saat Vachan Lawn, the M.S.E.B. office, Sudarshan Chowk, Harihar Mandir, Lakadganj police station, Satranjipura, Keta Colony, Telephone Exchange Chowk, Azam Shah Chowk, Darodkar Chowk, Gandhi Putla Chowk, Badkas Chowk, Lakdipul, Nawabpura, Shivaji Nagar and Gangabai Ghat Chowk, and end at the Kachchhi Visa ground.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari will be present at the event. The marathon will be flagged off by them. Mayor Nita Thakre will preside.

The special guests will be Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Khadse, state Revenue Minister and Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal, Minister of State Dr Pankaj Bhoyar and Rajya Sabha member Maya Ivnate. Legislative Council members Abhijit Wanjari, Sudhakar Adbale, Dr Parinay Fuke, Krupal Tumane, Sanjay Bhende and Dr Rajiv Potdar will also attend. Legislative Assembly members Dr Nitin Raut, Krishna Khopde, Praveen Datke, Mohan Mate and Vikas Thakre will also be present.

Deputy Mayor Lila Hathibed, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani Wakhare, ruling party leader and convener of the Unity Marathon Run Narendra (Balya) Borkar and Leader of the Opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar will also be there. Municipal Commissioner Dr Vipin, Additional Commissioners Ankit, Muruganantham M. and Milind Meshram, Sports Special Committee Chairperson Darshani Dhawand, Education Special Committee Chairperson Santosh Ladda and Lakadganj Zone Chairperson Maheshwari Bisen will also attend. AIMIM group leader Shakeel Patel, Indian Union Muslim League group leader Aslam Khan Mulla, Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Kishor Kumeria, Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar faction) group leader Abha Pande, BSP group leader Harshala Jaiswal and Shiv Sena group leader Ganesh Charlewar will also be present. Local corporators Balu Larokar, Archana Padole and Atul Kotecha, among many others, will also attend.

The corporation has prepared an assembly point for all players and citizens. Deputy Commissioner Manjesh Khawale and Sports Officer Dr Piyush Ambulkar said a large number of people are registering on their own.

All players and citizens taking part in the marathon will get a T-shirt from the corporation. T-shirts will be distributed today, Friday, October 30, from 10 am to 5 pm at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Kachchhi Visa ground in Lakadganj. T-shirts will be given against the QR code received after registration, so all participants should bring the QR code with them.

Ruling party leader Narendra Borkar appealed to families, friends and various institutions and organisations to take part on their own and make the marathon a success. Deputy Mayor Leena Hathibed, Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani, Transport Committee Chairperson Mangala Kheikare, Darshani Dhawad and corporator Dilip Dive were also present at the press conference.