In a digitally pioneering move, the CISF virtually flagged off its ambitious ‘Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon-2026’ from New Delhi’s Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium at 7:30 AM Wednesday. Chief guest Nityanand Rai, Minister of State for Home, gave the go-ahead, igniting a 25-day odyssey of national awakening.
Two elite CISF teams pedaled out from Bakkhali, West Bengal, and Lakhpat, Gujarat, embarking on a grueling 6,500 km traverse of India’s coastlines across 9 states and 2 UTs, set to converge in Kochi by February 22, 2026.
The high-profile launch hosted top brass: Youth Affairs Secretary Dr. Pallavi Jain Govil; ITBP DG Shatrujeet Kapoor; CISF DG Praveer Ranjan; NIA DG Rakesh Agarwal; Prasar Bharati CEO Gaurav Dwivedi; SSB DG Sanjay Singhal, and more. They joined a spirited cycle rally at India Gate, embodying inter-agency solidarity and the campaign’s unifying call to vigilance.
Minister Rai’s speech centered on the 150-year milestone of ‘Vande Mataram’, the anthem that fueled independence and endures as a beacon of service. Coastal security, he asserted, demands community involvement, turning locals into frontline defenders.
A key boast: CISF’s RSO status under ISPS Code, cementing its role in maritime defense. This aligns seamlessly with PM Modi’s SAGAR doctrine for secure, growing seas.
Patriotic fervor peaked with group singing of ‘Vande Mataram’ and CISF band’s renditions. DG Ranjan elaborated, “This cyclothon revives Vande Mataram’s essence for modern challenges, mobilizing citizens for maritime security.”
Core goals: Alert coastal folk to smuggling perils; bridge communities and forces; pay tribute to heroes; spotlight maritime legacy and fishermen’s roles; instill fitness and discipline in youth.
Fishermen are hailed as natural sentinels. The route halts at 52 villages for CISF adoption, backed by ONGC, ports via CSR for development projects. 47 units will sustain ties through jobs awareness, sports, youth meets, cleanliness drives, afforestation, culture, and anti-drug pushes.
With half the cyclists women, it champions inclusion and motivates nationwide fitness-patriotism fusion.
Star-studded stops in Mumbai, Goa, Mangaluru, Konark, Vizag, Chennai precede Kochi finale. Echoing Viksit Bharat@2047, it fortifies coasts, empowers people for a resilient India. Join via CISF platforms!
