The Business Bytes
TBB BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR, DEC 1, 2022
The fourth edition of the Tour-de-Kalinga, Asia’s longest community pedalling campaign, will begin from Bhubaneswar on December 11, 2022.
With an aim to connect to all its roots and create a pillar force for the cause and concerns of Odisha and provide solutions for bringing rapid development, Roots of Odisha Foundation (ROOF) has been organising this community cycling campaign since 2015.
During the campaign, the team will have community engagement programme at schools, colleges, universities, and villages to sensitise on the larger issues of pollution, global warming and drug abuses.
The Tour-de-Kalinga aims to create a Pedalling corridor in Odisha landscape that will ultimately boost the ecotourism, local employment and economic uplift meant of Odisha.
This year the Tour-de-Kalinga brigade will start their pedalling voyage to Koraput from Bhubaneswar on December 11 and return to Bhubaneswar covering a distance of 1300 KM and 10 districts. The entire campaign will be covered in 13 days.
The team on the first day will visit Puri via Konark enroute Pipili and Raghurajpur. Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Tushar Kanti Behera is slated to flag off the campaign from Kalinga Stadium.
Ever Since 2015, the Tour-De-Kalinga has emerged as the longest community cycling campaign on Social Development issues with pan India participation from all states.
Recently The Booklet of Tour-De-Kalinga was inaugurated by Sports and Youth Affairs Minister in the presence of Roots of Odisha Foundation Chairman Sudhir Dash.
Narrating the significance of this tour, Sudhir Dash said, “A ride in Odisha, known for its pristine golden beaches, world famous heritage sites of Konark Sun Temple, Lord Jagannath Puri Temple, Temple City Bhubaneswar, Asia’s biggest brackish water lake Chilka & lagoons, dense forests, elephant reserve, tiger reserve, mesmerizing eastern Ghats, Ragi & Alsi cultivation, dance, art, a mix of North & South Indian cuisine, peaceful & hospitable people, will enthrall the participants.
The day one of the campaign will be held on Dec 11 from Bhubaneswar via Konark to Puri which has distance of 103 KM; the second day of the tour will be held Puri – Satpada – Chhatrapur which has a distance of 131 KM; the third day of the tour will be started from Chhatrapur – Berhampur – Chandragiri which has a distance of 103 KM, the fourth day will be started from Chandragiri–Padampur–Parlakhemundi which has a distance of 100 KM, the fifth day will be started from Paralakhemundi – Gunpur – Rayagada which has a distance of 137 KM, the sixth day will be started from Rayagada – Lakshmipur – Koraput which has a distance of 112 KM, the seventh day will be rest day with visit to tribal villages, Deomali Hills, Village Haats, Ragi cultivation area, traditional agricultural practices.
The eighth day tour will start from Koraput – Bisham Cuttack – Muniguda which has a distance of 171 KM, the ninth day program will startfrom Muniguda – Kotagarh – Belgarh which has a distance of 82 KM, the day 10th is rest day at Belgarh Nature Camp.
Visit to forest, school managed by forest department, a cultural evening in Tribal village & bonfire at Nature camp are the activities the riders will be engaged during the stay.
The 11th day program will start from Belgarh – Baliguda – Phulbani which has a distance of 141 KM, the 12th day will be started from Phulbani – Dashpala – Nayagarh which has a distance of 124 KM, and the 13th day will start from Nayagarh – Khordha – Bhubaneswar which has distance of 82 KM.
The tour closing ceremony will be held at Bhubaneswar with medal and certificate distribution in the evening with filled fun frolic.
Going further, Tour-de-Kalinga Convenor Yogendra Singh echoes that this campaign has the fullest potential to emerge as a world class destination for eco and adventure tourists beating tour-de-France.
