PR / Desk
AGARTALA, January 19, 2020: Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura Jishnu Debbarman and MP of Tripura. Pratima Bhowmik, who graced SAKSHAM Cycle Day celebrations organised by ONGC Tripura Asset on Sunday at the Swami Vivekananda Stadium of Agartala, as Chief Guest and Guest of honour respectively, paddled themselves to spread the message of eco-friendly mode of transport among the citizens.
Amid cheers of media-persons, cyclists and ONGCians alike, the iconic leaders of Tripura smilingly saddled the cycle like teenagers. OP Singh, GGM- Asset Manager of ONGC Tripura Asset and more than thousand likeminded individuals , who volunteered for and cycled the length of the VIP road of Agartala, the capital city of Tripura covering a distance of more than 6 kilometres. Several MLAs, senior Govt. officials and other VIPs, also actively participated in the rally to make it a grand success.
In order to enhance mass awareness of using eco-friendly mode of transport, ONGC Tripura Asset, partnered with Petroleum Conservation and Research Association (PCRA), organised SAKSHAM Cycle Day Cycle rally on Sunday at Agartala.
The Cyclothon was flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister, along with MP, Speaker of Tripura Legislative Assembly, Rebate Mohan Das, in the presence of GGM-Asset Manager, Tripura Asset OP Singh at Vivekananda Stadium, Agartala. The event mobilised over thousand participants – cyclists and volunteers, from different walks of life, including sports enthusiasts, cyclic clubs, School students, civil society and various Oil and companies like GAIL and IOC. Senior officers and many cycle enthusiasts from BSF, CRPF, Assam rifles, Tripura Police Force also joined in the rally. ONGC’s senior executives and Representatives of Collectives, Mahila Samiti members of ONGC were also present on the occasion.
The Saksham Cycle Day rally started from the Vivekananda Stadium and the cyclists followed a route especially designed to allow them to cycle freely, passing through various junctions reaching New Secretariat Complex and thereafter, returned to the starting point via the same route covering a distance of more than 6 kilometres. All the participants ranging from age group of 10 to 75 years completed the stretch within 45 minutes and were applauded by passer-by during the full stretch of the journey.
Deputy Chief Minister of Tripura Jishnu Debbarman his address spoke on the role of every citizen to be conscious about environment and take responsible steps to protect the environment. He appreciated the initiatives of ONGC being taken from time to time in the state of Tripura and made a special mention, that although ONGC being an upstream player, in the hydrocarbon sector, producing hydrocarbons is equally conscious about its conservation and inculcating awareness on its judicial usage, thereby conserving fuel as well as protecting environment.
Pratima Bhowmik inspired the Cyclists to spread the message that judicious use of various forms of energy and its conservation is a matter of vital importance to all of us for the betterment of our society and healthy environment.
OP Singh, GGM- Asset Manager, ONGC Tripura Asset in his welcome address also called upon the need to use eco-friendly transport system. He inspired people from different walks of life to adopt cycling and other environmentally-friendly practices in their lifestyles. Amid thunderous claps he said “Our Prime Minister has appealed to citizens of India not to use vehicles at least one day in a week. In line with Prime Minister’s appeal we have also declared Friday in every week as no-vehicle day in ONGC Tripura Asset Office complex. ”
The Cyclothonists spread awareness on fuel conservation, drew mass attention in the city, reaching out to the citizens of Agartala, a crucial dimension of its strife to inspire immediate action on the need and benefits of conservation of petroleum products. The Saksham Cycle Day at Agartala achieved the purpose of encouraging masses to use public transport and non-mechanised mode of transport in a unique and memorable way.