‘Tour-de-Kalinga’ Cycling Campaign To Kick Start In Odisha On Dec 11

Bhubaneswar: The fourth edition of ‘Tour-de-Kalinga’, considered Asia’s longest community pedalling campaign, will begin from Odisha capital December 11.

With an aim to connect to the grassroots, learn about problems faced by people in different parts of the state  and provide solutions for ensuring rapid development, Roots of Odisha Foundation (ROOF) has been organising this community cycling campaign since 2015.

During the campaign, the team will have community engagement programmes at schools, colleges, universities, and villages to sensitise on the larger issues of pollution, global warming and drug abuses.

Tour-de-Kalinga aims to create a pedalling corridor in Odisha landscape that will ultimately boost the ecotourism, local employment and economic uplift meant of Odisha, a press release from organisers said.

This year the Tour-de-Kalinga brigade will start their pedalling voyage to Koraput from Bhubaneswar on December 11 and return to the state capital which covers a distance of 1300 KM across 10 districts. The entire campaign will be covered in 13 days.

On the first day, the team will visit Puri via Konark enroute Pipili and Raghurajpur. Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Tushar Kanti Behera is slated to flag off the campaign from Kalinga Stadium.

Ever Since 2015, the Tour-De-Kalinga has emerged as the longest community cycling campaign on Social Development issues with pan India participation from all states.

Recently The Booklet of Tour-De-Kalinga was inaugurated by the Sports Minister in the presence of Chairman of ROOF Sudhir Dash.

Narrating the significance of this tour, Sudhir Dash said the state is known for its pristine golden beaches, world famous heritage sites of Konark Sun Temple, Puri Jagannath Temple, city of Temples, Bhubaneswar, Asia’s biggest brackish water lake Chilka, dense forests, elephant reserve, tiger reserve and mesmerising eastern ghats.

The second day of the tour will cover Puri, Satpada and Chhatrapur  which has a distance of 131 KM, while the third day of the tour will start from Chhatrapur and move to Berhampur and then Chandragiri which has a distance of 103 KM.

The 13^th day of the tour will be from Nayagarh to Khordha before culminating at Bhubaneswar. A closing ceremony will be held at Bhubaneswar with medal and certificate distribution in the evening with filled fun frolic.

Convenor of Tour-de-Kalinga Yogendra Singh said the campaign has the potential to emerge as a world class destination for eco and adventure tourist.