Mayor Tony Chammany has said that preparations for the maiden Kochi International Half Marathon on Sunday are in the final stages.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Mr. Chammany said that the event, that is likely to attract about 10,000 participants, will feature athletes of national and international repute besides prominent personalities from the political, cultural and art worlds.
The event has been organised in three categories – 21 km half-marathon, 2 km celebrity run, and 7 km amateur run. The marathon will conclude in three hours after being flagged off from Maharaja’s College ground at 6.15 a.m. The amateur run to start at 6.45 a.m. will be held on the synthetic track of the college ground.
The runners will proceed along Pallimukku, Ravipuram and Mattancherry before returning to the starting point.
Elaborate security arrangements would be put in place for the smooth conduct of the event. About 100 doctors and ambulances from the Medical Trust Hospital would be positioned at the main venue and along the marathon route to ensure the well-being of the participants. A 20-member team made up of members of Bullet Buddhas would ride pilot to the marathon. About 2,500 participants are expected for the half marathon and 5,000 for the 7 km fun run. A 100-year-old from Chattisgarh will participate in the event. As a prelude to the event, a mini marathon led by MLAs, corporation councillors, the Inspector General of Police, and the District Collector will be held on Saturday at 4 pm. Individual registration will be open till the afternoon of Saturday.
Traffic regulationsTraffic in the city would be restricted between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Sunday in view of the inaugural edition of Kochi International Half Marathon.
Inspector General of Police (Ernakulam Range, K. Padmakumar briefed the details of the traffic regulations at a press conference held here on Thursday.
Traffic will remain banned between M.G. Road and Mullassery Canal Road between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m.
Traffic would be restricted partially between 6.30 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. along BOT Bridge to West Kochi and back.
All vehicles bound for West Kochi along M.G. Road should, from 9 a.m. onwards, approach Thevara Junction and reach Thevara Ferry Junction by taking the Pandit Karuppan Road. Then they should proceed along the Alexander Parambithara Road to reach BOT West Junction and take the BOT Bridge to reach West Kochi.
All vehicles except buses from Fort Kochi and Mattancherry areas bound for Thoppumppady along the Paravana and Kappalandymukku route should instead take the Fort Kochi-Veli-Beach Road-Pappangamukku-Parippu Junction-Santhom Colony-Kochuppally Road route to reach ESI Road. They can reach the city by taking the BOT bridge either through the Alexander Paramppithara Road-Kundannoor-Vytilla route or through the Fort Kochi-Vypeen Jankar service.
Parking restrictionsParking has been strictly banned along the route of the marathon and this include stretches between M.G. Road and Fort Kochi, Paravanamukku and Arakkaparambu. Parking will also be banned between Kappalandymukku in Mattancherry and Thoppumppady old bridge, CIFT Junction, and BOT Road.
Following are the numbers to be contacted on emergency situations: control room (100), crime stopper (1090), traffic helpline (1099), women’s helpline (1091), women’s police station (0484-2394250) women’s cell (4060066), and police message centre (94979-00000).
