CISF Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026 Concludes in Kochi After 6,553 km Coastal Outreach

New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026 concludes at Kochi after covering 6,553 kilometres across India’s eastern and western coastlines in a 25 day nationwide outreach initiative.

The Cyclothon commemorates 150 years of the iconic national song Vande Mataram and promotes the theme Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat, emphasising coastal security awareness, community participation and national unity. Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar and CISF Director General Praveer Ranjan attend the valedictory ceremony along with senior CISF officials and prominent personalities from film and sports sectors.

The coastal cycling expedition passes through nine states and two Union Territories, connecting major maritime hubs, historic ports, fishing villages and tourist beaches along India’s nearly 7,500 kilometre coastline. The initiative highlights the strategic importance of coastal security for economic stability since nearly 95 percent of India’s trade by volume moves through more than 250 operational ports.

A total of 130 CISF cyclists participate in the campaign, including a historic 50 percent women contingent, symbolising growing gender inclusion in national security outreach programmes. The presence of women cyclists in uniform inspires young girls in coastal communities to consider careers in defence and public service.

The Cyclothon focuses strongly on grassroots engagement by adopting 52 coastal villages for long term community interaction. The programme includes overnight halts where cyclists interact with local residents, fishermen groups, women self help organisations and youth collectives.

Corporate social responsibility partnerships support the outreach programme through collaboration with organisations such as the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and port authorities. Planned year round activities include rural sports promotion, fitness camps, recruitment awareness sessions, Swachh Bharat cleanliness drives, plantation programmes, environmental conservation initiatives and educational support for local schools.

Youth engagement forms a major component of the Cyclothon. Students, NCC cadets and local sports clubs join cycling rallies and participate in awareness discussions on maritime vigilance, career opportunities in uniformed services and sports development.

The initiative also highlights the role of fishermen as coastal guardians, encouraging them to function as Tat Praharis who can help report suspicious maritime activities such as narcotics trafficking, arms smuggling and illegal infiltration attempts.

Environmental protection remains another priority as organisers conduct beach cleaning drives, plantation campaigns and public fitness demonstrations to promote sustainable coastal tourism and ecological balance.

At the Kochi finale ceremony, community representatives, security personnel, cultural performers and civil administration officials gather for patriotic programmes including renditions of Vande Mataram and public pledges supporting coastal vigilance.

CISF leadership states that the Cyclothon is not a one time event but a long term participative coastal security outreach framework designed to transform awareness into community action.

The Cyclothon concludes symbolically with cyclists handing over the baton of vigilance to coastal communities, reinforcing the message that secure and prosperous maritime borders require collective responsibility, trust and citizen participation.