In a bid to strengthen its campaign for fitness, wellness, and sustainability, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration is set to organize two major cycling events this week, a Cycling Tour on November 9 and an Open Road Race on November 8. The events, spearheaded by the Department of Education and the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, aim to promote active lifestyles, eco-friendly transport, and community participation under the broader themes of the Fit India Movement and Clean & Green Islands Campaign.
The Cycling Tour, themed #Explore. Experience. Enjoy., will take place from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. on November 9, covering some of the most prominent city landmarks. The ride will begin from the National Memorial Cellular Jail, moving through Devraj Clinic, Water Sports Complex, Dignabad Fish Market, Fisheries Training Centre, Marine Dockyard, Phoenix Bay Power House, Fisheries Jetty, Megapode Chowk, Police Marine, and PS Chatham, before concluding near the Netaji Stadium Main Gate.
The event is open to students, youth volunteers, and cycling enthusiasts. A limited number of 40 bicycles have been made available by the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, though participants can also bring their own bicycles. Registrations are open until November 8, and interested participants can contact the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs through the provided mobile number for enrollment.
Officials stated that the cycling tour is designed to encourage citizens to adopt eco-friendly modes of transport, promote wellness tourism, and build awareness about environmental protection through community engagement. The Administration believes such participatory initiatives not only promote fitness but also highlight the importance of reducing carbon footprints in urban areas.
Ahead of the Cycling Tour, the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs will host the Open Road Race on November 8, starting at 6 a.m. from Netaji Stadium Sports Complex, Sri Vijaya Puram. The event features two categories, a 10 km run for men and a 5 km run for women, both following routes through key city areas before returning to the stadium.
Participants from government and private schools, colleges, organizations, and the general public have been invited to join the race. Runners are required to report by 5:50 a.m. at the starting gate. The route for the men’s 10 km run will cover Netaji Stadium, JNRM, Govt. Press, South Point Municipal Building, Sinclairs Hotel, Mazar Pahad Chowk, Science Centre, Hornbill Nest, and Corbyn’s Chowk, before returning along the same route. The women’s 5 km route will follow a similar course but conclude at Mazar Pahad Chowk before looping back to the stadium.
Officials said both events are part of the Administration’s continuing effort to promote active citizenship and healthy living among island residents. The collaboration between the Education and Sports Departments is aimed at fostering a fitness culture that integrates recreation, tourism, and environmental awareness.
The initiatives also align with the Administration’s push to promote eco-tourism as a pillar of sustainable development in the Islands. By blending physical activity with scenic exploration, the Cycling Tour and Open Road Race underscore the Islands’ natural beauty while reinforcing the importance of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
Both departments have urged citizens, particularly students and youth, to participate in large numbers. They emphasized that fitness and sustainability go hand in hand, and such initiatives can serve as models for other Union Territories aiming to integrate community health with environmental consciousness.
As the Andaman and Nicobar Islands gear up for these back-to-back cycling events, officials hope the turnout and enthusiasm will reinforce a long-term movement toward wellness tourism, green mobility, and collective responsibility for the Islands’ natural environment.
