Bhubaneswar, 28/01/24 ( pratyusha Bureau ) : The Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Eco hosted its second annual walkathon in Bhubaneswar, drawing participants from diverse backgrounds, including Rotarians, professionals, community leaders, and students of all ages. Before the walkathon began, Club President Shri Sunanda Mitra articulated its purpose, while Vice President Shri Pramod Panda reiterated the club’s environmental focus. Distinguished guests, including Shri Siddhant Das, Shri Suresh Chandra Panda, and Shri Susant Mani, initiated the walkathon at Master Canteen Square. Shri Das stressed the importance of reducing honking, advocating its gradual acceptance as a cultural norm. Shri Panda commended the initiative, while Shri Mani praised the participants for their large turnout despite the early winter chill. Participants pledged to reserve horn usage for essential situations and promised to promote this practice among others, emphasizing safe driving habits. The walkathon spanned nearly 7 kilometers from Master Canteen Square to Vani Vihar Square and back, with participants displaying banners and wearing specially designed T-shirts bearing anti-honking messages. The Rotary Club of Bhubaneswar Eco remains dedicated to eradicating honking in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack through various initiatives, including sensitization programs for three-wheeler and four-wheeler drivers, and engaging with prominent figures to address the issue. Other Rotarians of the Club who participated in the event were Smt Shipra Saxena, Smt Indumati Nanda, Smt Priyanka Dash, Shri Raja Mishra, Shri Ashok Panda, Shri Dhaneswar Sahoo, Shri Cyril Patro, Shri Santosh Panigrahy, Shri Manoj Swain and Shri Bibek Jena.
