Mangaluru: In order to create awareness among the public about their voting right, the Dakshina Kannada district committee of SVEEP (Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation), in association with the DK Zilla Panchayat, Mangaluru City Corporation and Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports organised a 18-km marathon from Mangala Stadium on Sunday, March 31, at around 7 AM.

The slogan for the marathon was ‘Mathadanada Kade Namma Nade’. Dakshina Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, IGP (Western Range) Arun Chakravarthy, Commissioner of Police Sandeep Patil, Superintendent of Police B M Lakshmi Prasad, MCC Commissioner Mohammed Nazeer among others also participated in the marathon.

There were two categories of marathon-above age 16 and under 16. The 18-km long marathon for the above 16 category commenced from Mangala Stadium and passed via Mannagudda, New Chithra, Carstreet, Sharavu Temple, K S Rao Road, Nava Bharat Circle, PVS Circle, Selma Arcade, Kadri Temple Road, Bejai, KSRTC, Lalbagh, Kapikad, Daddalkad, Urwastore, Ashok Nagar, Urwa Market and Ladyhill and culminated at Mangala Stadium again.

For the under 16, the marathon was of 6 km. It commenced from Mangala Stadium and went via Mannagudda, New Chithra, Carstreet, Central Market, Hampankatta, PVS Circle, Ballalbhag, Lalbhag and returned to the venue at Mangala stadium. There was also a walkathon for the senior citizens for short distance. The intention of the programme was to create awareness among the public about the importance of the voting.

The winners were presented cash awards during the valedictory programme of marathon.