Civic officials, senior police officers, and political leaders took part in a short ‘show run’ on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s half marathon in the city.
Mayor Tony Chammany; Deputy Mayor B. Bhadra; Ernakulam Range Inspector General of Police K. Padmakumar; City Police Commissioner K.G. James; and MLAs Hibi Eden and Benny Behanan; took part in the short run from Maharaja’s College ground to the corporation’s office on Saturday evening.
Pilot teamThe show run was led by a pilot team of members of the Bullet Buddhas and the lead vehicle for Sunday’s race that displays the time of the marathon.
About 2,500 national and international runners are to take part in the 21.097-km half marathon set to begin at Maharaja’s College ground at 6.15 a.m.
The runners will take the route from the ground through Pallimukku to Mattancherry and back. Around 5,000 people are also expected to take part in the 7-km amateur run that will extend from Maharaja’s College ground to Kochukadavanthra and back. Actors Mohanlal and Manju Warrier, State Transport Commissioner Rishi Raj Singh, actors and political leaders are also expected to take part in the 2-km celebrity run that will be held on the day.
Traffic curbsA team of 50 doctors and 280 medical personnel will be on call to assist the runners. Eight medical stations have been set up along the half marathon course for medical assistance.
Traffic regulations have also been put in place for the inaugural edition of the event. 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.
