Pictures by Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency.
Bibhash Lodh, BS News Agency: *West Bengal Sports Minister Shri Nisith Pramanik and state Cabinet Minister Dr Sharadwat Mukherjee lead World Bicycle Day celebrations at Fit India Sundays on Cycle*
Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of West Bengal, Shri Nisith Pramanik lead the way along with Dr. Sharadwat Mukherjee, Honourable Cabinet Minister, Government of West Bengal, former Team India cricketer Ashoke Dinda and AIFF President Shri Kalyan Choubey as Fit India - Sundays on Cycle celebrated World Bicycle Day 2026 here at the iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Stadium on Sunday.
Respected Regional Director, Sports Authority of India, Netaji Subhas Eastern Center, Shri Sibananda Mishra was also present on the dais along with Principal Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of West Bengal Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha.
Several other dignitaries also graced the occasion including Special Secretary, Department of Youth Services and Sports, Government of West Bengal Sri Dinesh Chandra Mandal and Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, Shri Ajay Nand. Olympians Seema Biswas and Bombayla Devi were also present.
Started by Hon’ble Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in December 2024, this Sunday's edition of the Fit India Sundays on Cycle saw enthusiastic participation of more than 5,000 individuals. Apart from the cycling event a plethora of recreational activities like Yoga, rope skipping, dart, snake and ladder, and Zumba were parallelly organized.
Adressing the energetic gathering, Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Govt of West Bengal, Shri Nisith Pramanik said: “It is a unique initiative of the Government of India. The Prime Minister's appeal for fitness encourages everyone to stay active. Instead of going to a doctor for fitness-related issues, one should try cycling first. Just 30 minutes of cycling can make a significant contribution to one's health. Events like this will bolster our bid for staging the Olympic Games in the country in 2036. I also thank all the people who have gathered here organically for this cause, as they are contributing to a fit and healthy India in their own way.”
The minister made a host of important announcements aimed at boosting the standard of sports in West Bengal. These included increasing the prize money for gold medal winners at international events from the state to 8 crore rupees, while silver and bronze medal winners will receive 7 crore and 6 crore rupees respectively. He also announced that sportspersons will receive government jobs according to their educational qualifications upto the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.
Honourable Cabinet Minister, Government of West Bengal, Shri Saraswad Mukherjee voiced confidence that Fit India Sundays on Cycle will mark the beginning of the rise of West Bengal as a sports power at the national level.
"We remain committed to the dream of Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi of a fit and healthy India. No other prime minister had come up with initiatives like Fit India and Khelo India," he said.
Till now, the cycling movement has witnessed participation from more than 30 Lakh fitness enthusiasts.
A fun sports zone was also created prompting the public to try out options like push up challenge, ludo, jumping challenge, dart competition etc.
Fit India Sundays on Cycle is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) in association with the Sports Authority of India with the active collaboration of the Cycling Federation of India.
Over 250 cadets from the National Cadet Corps (NCC) and sizeable contingents from the National Service Scheme (NSS), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), West Bengal Police and several schools from across the city made the event an occasion to remember.
The cycling drive is conducted simultaneously across all States and Union Territories, including SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs), SAI Training Centres (STCs), Khelo India State Centres of Excellence (KISCEs) and Khelo India Centres (KICs).