Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) will flag off the second edition of the CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon–2026 on January 28, with the nationwide initiative focusing on coastal security awareness, national unity and community participation.
The cyclothon will be virtually flagged off by Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai from Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi. Spanning 6,553 km over a period of 25 days, the event will see two CISF cycling teams simultaneously set out from opposite ends of the country’s coastline — Lakhpat Fort in Gujarat on the west coast and Bakkhali in West Bengal on the east coast. Both teams will traverse the entire Indian coastline before converging at Kochi, Kerala on February 22.
Organised under the theme “Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat” (Secure Coasts, Prosperous India), the cyclothon will involve 130 CISF personnel, including 65 women cyclists. The initiative seeks to build awareness among coastal communities about security-related issues, encourage vigilance against coastal crimes and foster closer cooperation between security forces and local residents.
Along the route, the cycling teams will engage with fishermen and coastal populations through outreach programmes, while also promoting physical fitness, environmental responsibility and cleanliness drives. The cyclothon will also serve as a platform to showcase India’s rich maritime heritage and the crucial role played by coastal communities in safeguarding the nation’s shores.
The CISF initiative is expected to draw wide public participation and reinforce the message of collective responsibility in ensuring secure and prosperous coastlines.
