MADURAI: Scores of athletes and different sports activities individuals participated in a mini marathon, organised below the banner of Arasaradi Railway Sports Stadium and Railway Colony Land Protection Movement on Sunday to attract consideration to their opposition to privatise railway floor positioned at Arasaradi in Madurai.

Su Venkatesan, Madurai MP, flagged off the mini marathon, which commenced at Arasaradi. The campaigners ran by way of TB highway, Madurai Railway junction Road, Madura Coats Bridge and New Jail Road earlier than concluding at Arasaradi.

Opposing the transfer to privatise the sports activities floor at Arasaradi, which’s positioned within the coronary heart of Madurai metropolis and its adjoining railway colony lands, for industrial goal, the Madurai MP stated many individuals are depending on the railway floor with mature timber throughout for oxygen and stroll by way of inexperienced parks.

The sports activities floor in Arasaradi and the railway colony have over 1,500 timber and virtually 5,000 individuals had been making use of the playground strolling, jogging, working and taking part in loads of video games to steer a wholesome life-style.

This sports activities floor produced a number of athletes, who received medals after competing in nationwide and worldwide ranges. Citing these, Venkatesan stated this playground is an asset of every individual in Madurai and he appealed to the Centre to surrender leasing the dear lands for commercialisation.

Further, Venkatesan stated the individuals of Madurai would by no means permit the privatisation of this playground in Arasaradi. Already, a signature marketing campaign was organised a few months in the past at Arasaradi and scores of ground-goers, athletes and sportspersons joined the marketing campaign by coming into their names towards the privatisation transfer.

G Thalapathi, Madurai North MLA, Solai M Raja, senior vice chairman of Tamil Nadu Olympic Association and G Gopalakrishnan, president, Madurai District Athletics Association introduced certificates to the individuals. R Sudalaimuthu, treasurer, Railway Land Protection Movement, was amongst these current within the programme, sources stated.