Patna Gears Up for Marathon Promoting De-Addiction on December 1

Chirag Gupta

Patna: Preparations for the Patna Marathon, scheduled for December 1, are in full swing under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner Mayank Warvade. A meeting of the Patna Marathon Organising Committee was held at the Commissioner’s office to review and finalise arrangements for the event, which aims to raise awareness about de-addiction.

The marathon, organised by the Prohibition, Excise, and Registration Department in collaboration with ADD 24 Services Pvt. Ltd. and sponsored by the State Bank of India, will feature both national and international runners. Around 10,000 participants are expected to compete across four categories: marathon (42 km), Half Marathon (21 km), 10 km, and 5 km. The race will begin at Gandhi Maidan and follow a route along the JP Ganga Path and Khas Mahal Digha Diara.

The flag-off times for the respective categories are set for 5:00 am, 5:30 am, 6:30 am, and 7:30 am. Online registration for the event is open until November 23 on www.biharmarathon.com. The event is being promoted extensively through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

During the meeting, Commissioner Warvade emphasised the importance of flawless arrangements, urging officials to focus on crowd management, traffic flow, and law and order. He highlighted the significance of the marathon in promoting de-addiction as part of the government’s Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan and its efforts to raise public awareness on health and fitness.

Officials including District Magistrate Chandrashekhar Singh, Senior Superintendent of Police Rajiv Mishra, and Municipal Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar assured the Commissioner that all arrangements are progressing on schedule. Special attention is being given to medical preparedness, with mobile medical teams, ambulances, and coordination with private hospitals along the route.

The Patna Municipal Corporation is tasked with ensuring adequate drinking water, toilet facilities, and lighting along the marathon route. Disaster management arrangements, including temporary control rooms and sufficient deployment of police personnel, will also be in place to handle any emergencies.

Traffic management will be overseen by the Superintendent of Police, Traffic, who is preparing a detailed plan to ensure smooth operations around Gandhi Maidan and along the marathon route. Barricades, drop gates, and designated diversion points will be set up as needed.

The Commissioner concluded by appealing to the public, especially the youth, to participate in large numbers and support the state government’s de-addiction campaign. With collaboration among various departments, the marathon is expected to be a significant event promoting health, fitness, and social awareness in Bihar.