Modi to flag-off over 125,000 runners of 'Run for Unity' on Dec 15

Eminent citizens of Vadodara including Arjuna and Eklavya Awardees would become part of the first lot of 7,500 runners

In a record-breaking marathon run, over 1,25,000 runners from Vadodara city will participate for 'Run for Unity' marathon to be organised on December 15, the death anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Gujarat chief minister, Narendra Modi will flag-off the marathon in the presence of eminent citizens of Vadodara including Arjuna and Eklavya Awardees, district collector, Vinod Rao informed on Wednesday.

"Already 1,25,300 online registrations from Vadodara city alone have been received. Eminent citizens including people from different states and different culture and religion would become part of the first lot of 7500 runners on Sunday morning. This will realize the idea of unity behind the marathon," Rao informed during a media briefing.

"Chief Minister will flag off the marathon at 7.15 in the morning on Sunday. This will mark the flag-off for the similar runs at over 600 locations across the country in different states on same time and day," the collector said.

Interestingly, city's annual marathon event, Vadodara Marathon will also be held at the same venue on the same day. Modi will also flag off the 4th edition of annual Vadodara Marathon, will have two major categories of 21-kms and 15-kms runs. Vadodara Marathon, which has been organizing marathon races in the city over past three years, has received registrations from over 12,000 people.

The administration has made preparations to accommodate 150,000 people at the venue, which is Navalakhi Ground in the heart of the city. Over 550 state transport buses have been arranged to ferry participants and visitors from different places in the district.

Vadodara district will have seven such runs in all the talukas on the same day. As per the data put on the official website of Run for Unity, over 6,63,300 people have already registered for the run in all the districts of the state.

Notably, the Run for Unity marathon is being organised in memory of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Modi government through Rashtriya Ekta Trust is planning to build Patel's statue - tallest in the world near Sardar Sarovar Dam in Narmada district. The statue will have the height of 182 metres and will be named 'Statue of Unity'.