Chief Secy Dulloo inaugurates 3-day Kashmir Marathon Expo in Srinagar

In a run-up to the Marathon event scheduled for October 20, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday inaugurated a three-day ‘Kashmir Marathon Expo’ organised by the Tourism Department.

The Chief Secretary, who was accompanied by Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and other officers, expressed hope that this mega event, in which more than 2,000 runners are participating from all over the country, including some overseas athletes, would be made an annual feature.

He said such events reinvigorates commitment of the government towards promoting adventure tourism along with eco-tourism, leisure and niche tourism in the UT.

Dulloo maintained that this Expo would provide a platform to UT entrepreneurs to display and sell their products. Besides, they will get an opportunity to promote niche crops and unique handicrafts and handloom items prepared by J&K’s versatile artists. He stated that promotion of tourism of any sort is directly associated with boosting of trade, which ultimately accrues into creation of livelihood opportunities for youth.

During these three days, the marathon participants can collect their race kits containing their bib numbers and timing chips besides the relevant informational material about this race from 10 am to 5 pm daily upto October 19th.

The marathon is going to be first-of-its-kind as attractive prizes had been announced for both full and half marathon events to be held for both men and women separately.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure smooth and hassle-free conduct of ‘Kashmir Marathon’, Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri on Thursday enjoined upon all concerned officers to ensure that all arrangements are put in place at the earliest.

Bidhuri issued these directions in a meeting of concerned heads of departments while reviewing overall preparation for the historic event.

Addressing the meeting, he directed officers to dump all the required material at the site of starting and finishing venue at the Polo Ground. He also directed for enough barricading at the venue and along the route. He instructed them that all facilities shall be presentable with clear signages besides marking the route of the marathon.

Bidhuri also directed for uninterrupted supply of electricity at the venue and live demonstration of cultural activities, handicraft activities and display of stalls by Agriculture and Horticulture Departments.