A meeting of the District Core Committee for the Sardar 150 – Rashtriya Ekta Padyatra was held at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, South Andaman, to finalise preparations for the district-level celebrations marking the 150th birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Commissioner Arjun Sharma, discussed a detailed plan of action for conducting the upcoming Unity March events under the ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ campaign.
The Sardar 150 Rashtriya Ekta Padyatra will be jointly organised by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration and MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, as part of the nationwide Unity March commemorating Patel’s contribution to India’s unity and nation-building. After extensive deliberations, it was decided that two major Padyatra events will be organised across the South Andaman district to engage students, volunteers, and community organisations.
The first Unity March will be held on November 10, 2025, at Sri Vijaya Puram, beginning from the historic Cellular Jail. The route will cover prominent city landmarks including the Swimming Pool, Narayan Chowk, Clock Tower, Bengali Club, Lighthouse Junction, and Gandhi Statue, before culminating at Netaji Stadium. The second Padyatra will take place on November 17, 2025, in Wimberlygunj under Ferrargunj Block. It will start from Bambooflat School, proceed via Stewartgunj, and conclude at the Mini Stadium, Wimberlygunj.
Both events are expected to draw around 1,000 participants, including students and volunteers from the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), MY Bharat, schools, and colleges under the Education Department. Members of civil society and representatives from organisations such as Chinmaya Mission, Nai Manzil, Maharashtra Mandal, and Andaman Mahila Mandal will also take part, adding diversity and vibrancy to the march.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed arrangements and directed all departments to ensure effective coordination. The meeting was attended by heads of departments from Education, Sports & Youth Affairs, Health Services, APWD, Police, SVPMC, IP&T, Art & Culture, DIC, Zilla Parishad, MY Bharat, NSS, NCC, and representatives from various NGOs and civil societies.
During the discussions, officials finalised the roles and responsibilities of each department under three segments, Pre-Event, During Event, and Post-Event, following the Revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports. Departments agreed to collaborate on pre-event awareness campaigns, route and traffic management, first aid facilities, cleanliness drives, and cultural programmes. Documentation and publicity activities were also assigned to ensure the wide visibility of the event.
Deputy Commissioner Sharma appreciated the proactive participation of all departments and emphasised collective effort to make the event a success. He urged agencies to maintain coordination and uphold the values of unity, discipline, and patriotism symbolised by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
In a related event, the Andaman and Nicobar Administration will also observe Rashtriya Ekta Diwas on October 31, 2025, to mark Patel’s birth anniversary. A Run for Unity will be organised in Sri Vijaya Puram, beginning at 6 a.m. from the Netaji Stadium main gate. The route will cover Clock Tower, Bengali Club, SVPMC Office, Aberdeen Bazaar, and return to the stadium. Participants have been requested to report at 5:50 a.m. before the flag-off.
Together, the Run for Unity and the district-level Padyatras aim to reinforce the message of national integration and pay homage to Sardar Patel’s enduring legacy as the architect of modern India’s unity.
