The Central Industrial Security Force on Saturday concluded its Vande Mataram Coastal Cyclothon 2026 in Kochi, ending a 25 day journey that covered 6,553 km along India’s eastern and western seaboards to promote coastal vigilance and citizen participation in maritime security.
The valedictory ceremony was attended by Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Minister of State for Home Affairs, and CISF Director General Praveer Ranjan, along with senior officers. Personalities from the film and sports fraternity were also present, according to the force.
The cyclothon, which was virtually flagged off from New Delhi on 28 January , passed through nine states and two Union Territories, engaging fishing communities, youth groups, women’s collectives and local administrations under the theme “Surakshit Tat, Samridh Bharat”. The initiative coincided with the 150th year of the national song Vande Mataram and sought to link coastal security with economic activity and community awareness.
CISF officials said 130 cyclists took part in the ride, with women forming half of the contingent. The route connected ports, industrial hubs and fishing villages across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, focusing on awareness of threats such as smuggling and infiltration and the role of local vigilance.
A key element of the programme was sustained engagement in 52 coastal villages, where the cyclists halted overnight and interacted with residents on livelihood issues, environmental concerns and security. The force said these villages would be adopted for yearlong outreach through its coastal units, with support from port authorities and public sector undertakings under corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Youth participation featured prominently, with school students, NCC cadets and local sports clubs joining short stretches of the ride and taking part in recruitment awareness and sports activities.
CISF also highlighted the visibility of women cyclists as a source of inspiration for girls in coastal communities. Addressing the gathering in Kochi, CISF leadership said the cyclothon marked the beginning of a structured outreach framework aimed at converting awareness into sustained partnerships with coastal residents, including fishermen who were encouraged to act as frontline sentinels for maritime security.
