Hills set to organise 6th Darjeeling Hill Marathon on Sunday
Darjeeling: Darjeeling is all set to host the 6th edition of the Darjeeling Hill Marathon on November 10. Organised jointly by the Sports Development Foundation and the Darjeeling Police, the marathon has raised the bar this time.
"This time the participants for the marathon will be getting timing certificates, which can be used as qualification timing used as eligibility criteria for other national marathon events," stated Prasanta Saha, organising secretary of the event.
Electronic timer mats will be placed at the start line which will record the timings based on electronic chips embedded in the number tags of the runners. There will be two or three electronic control points along the route for the 21 km and 10 km marathons.
"This run is all set to emerge as one with one of the best routes in the country. It is a national event," stated Olympian Menezes.
Participants from all over the country along with foreign runners will be taking part in the run. 2,000 participants have already registered.
"We expect the residents to come out on the streets in large numbers and encourage the run. It is a run for Darjeeling. A run for education. A run for clean green Darjeeling," added the Olympian.
Indian Olympian Dipa Karmakar will be the face of the Darjeeling Hill Marathon. There will be 21 km, 10 km and 4 km marathons in the event.
The 21 km marathon will flagged off at 6.30 am from Chowrasta. The route will be via Gandhi road, INA bypass, Jorebungalow, Hill Cart road, Singamari, Zoo, Raj Bhawan and end at Chowrasta.
The 10 km run will be flagged off from Chowrasta at 7.15 am. The route will go through Gandhi Road, DB Giri Road, Hill Cart road, Darjeeling Railway Station, North Point School, Tending Rock, Zoo, Raj Bhawan and end at Chowrasta.
Lastly, the 4 km run will be flagged off from Chowrasta at 8.30 am. It will pass through Gandhi Road, DB Giri Road, Hill Cart road, Darjeeling Railway Station, Ladenla Road, Clubside, Keventers and end at Chowrasta.
"Owing to the marathon, traffic will remain off the roads including the stretch from Jorebungalow to Darjeeling from 6 am to 10.30 am. However, emergency vehicles including ambulances and fire engines will be allowed to ply. It might cause inconveniences but it is for the betterment of Darjeeling," stated Deputy Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling.
16 stations including energy, water and medical stations will be put up along the route. Each category will have an ambulance as the tail car. A medical camp with beds will be put up at Chowrasta. Police officers and volunteers will be deputed all along the route.
