MUMBAI: Hon. Union Environment Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan entered the venue on a bicycle peddling towards a greener India and felicitated the winners.

Alok Kumar Choudhary, CGM, SBI, Delhi Circle, flagged off the event with Indian Archer Aman Saini and Gaurav Bhiduri, renowned boxer

The marathon had participation from over 6500 runners in New Delhi who were given plantable bibs and organic tshirts

Second Edition will be taken to 15 major state capitals across the country and will be bigger and better

New Delhi: Country’s largest bank, State Bank of India and largest radio station, Radio Mirchi launched the second edition of ‘SBI Green Marathon’ supported by the Environment Ministry to promote sustainability. Shri. Alok Kumar Choudhary, CGM, SBI, Delhi Circle flagged off the event along with Aman Saini, Indian Archer and Gaurav Bhiduri, renowned Indian boxer. The marathon witnessed participation from more than 6500 enthusiastic runners.

Gracing the event and peddling his way towards a cleaner and greener India, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Hon’ble Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change made an entry to the event and felicitated the winners of SBI Green Marathon.

When asked about the event Dr. Harsh Vardhan said, “While the young of India are the future of the country today's Green Marathon participated by almost 10000 Delhites from all walks and aThis city have proven their commitment to clean and green Delhi and a healthy life. I wish the winners the best for their efforts and am sure that all present shall carry the message of clean and healthy India".

He further stressed about "the need to be aware of Good Green Deeds and contribute to a clean environment on date and for future by responsible living. The efforts of SBI, Bhamla Foundation and Radio Mirchi along with others is highly laudable".

The Sunday morning in the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium observed participants from across the city running 5, 10, 21 Kms marathon, pledging for a greener future.

The event also witnessed Air Marshal HN Bhagwat (Air Officer-in-charge Administration, & Vice Chairman) from the Indian Air Force running the 21K marathon. Additionally, Sergent Deepak Kumar and JWO Ravi Kumar from IAF who won medals in Asian Games (Jakarta) under 10 M Air Rifle Shooting category, were seen participating in this mega event. Sergent Santosh Kumar who won Bronze in the Wushu Men’s Sanda 56 KG also came forward to join the marathon.

Senior officials of the bank also contributed to the “Run for Green” theme and ran the marathon along with other participants.

The Second edition was bigger and better covering 15 major state capitals across the country. Participants were provided plant able bibs germinating into saplings and the glasses and plates provided at the event were made from bio-degradable bamboo and sugarcane biomass extract, delivering on the promise of moving towards a carbon negative footprint, the SBI Green Marathon had it all.

SBI and Radio Mirchi in the next six months will also rolling this marathon in Lucknow, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Trivandrum, Guwahati Bhopal, Chennai, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Patna and Jaipur.

Radio Mirchi MD and CEO Prashant Panday, ENIL added, “We grabbed the opportunity to partner with SBI and brought about the SBI Green Marathon which was perhaps India’s only marathon designed to raise carbon consciousness among people. Even the waste generated by this run was disposed off in an eco-friendly manner keeping the soul of the marathon intact. The culmination of many such activities made this Green Marathon stand apart from all other marathons. For such a marathon, there is no finish line. We hope everyone carries on their race towards a greener future, till we see them again”

SBI General Insurance is the health partner for SBI Green Marathon whereas SBI Life, SBI Mutual Funds and SBI Card are also significantly contributing to this zero waste event.