Ferozepur, January 4, 2020: Deputy Commissioner, Ferozepur Chander Gaind and members of Hussainiwala Riders accorded a warm welcome, at his residence, to the 12-members participating in 2,143 km Pune Cycle Expedition.
The 12-member team headed by 72-year old Nirupama Shrikrishna Bhave – master’s degree in mathematics and statistics and M.Phil and a PhD Degree holder in the same subjects – along with Ekadashi Kolhatkar (54), Shashank Vaidya (51), Meera Vaidya (48), Iyyer Vishwanathan (70), Nayana Agharkar (56), Rasik Patel (56), Shailesh Gosain (62), Mohit Kantilal Parmar (26), Shailesh Patel (52), Jayant Laxman Deodhar (65), Shailesh Patel(54), Meera Vaidya (43),Rasikbhai Patel(63) and AD Patel (69), will cover a distance of 2,143 km in 18 days, started on December 21, 2019 from Pune, under ‘Fit India Movement’.
Speaking to this correspondent, Bhave said, this expedition is distinctive on many fronts. our team members is a group of cycling enthusiasts from different walks of life – teaching, homemaker, businessmen, retired bank officials and in private jobs.
She said, the motive behind this expedition is to promote cycling to give some relief from polluting the environment from fuel burning in the autos, as a part of Fit-India through Cycling.
We paddle around 100-120 km every day and today we have reached Ferozepur passing through stats of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Punjab and head towards Jammu via Amritsar, Pathankot. We will reach back to Pune on January 8, 2020 by air, Bhave said. We are however, taking relief vehicle with us to take care of our belongings and for help in the event of any exigencies, she said.
We did not find any difficulty during the journey and it was a wonderful experience by visiting the various states. At every short halt, we have tried to spread awareness about Khelo India campaign launched by the Government of India and also motivate people to shun tabaccoo and drugs. We were given a warm welcome and affection in every town like in Ferozepur, She added.
Sohan Singh Sodhi and members of Hussainiwala Riders Ferozepur, it is our honour to welcome the 12-member cycle expedition and this long journey of 2,143 km have encouraged us to organize such trip in the coming time.
Lauding the enthusiasm and passion of the team members especially the 70 Plus and female members, Deputy Commissioner wished them a best of rest of their journey upto Jammu and back home to Pun end presented a ‘Yadgiri Chinh’ – Souvenir to the 12-Member team on behalf of the District Administration and Hussainiwala Riders, Ferozepur.