A resident of Race Course, T. Ramachandran is a regular walker for almost two decades. He recalls how the walkers’ track in Race Course used to have very few walkers years ago and was covered with a green canopy with trees on either side.
The 2.25 km track is said to have been used for horse riding by the British before Independence. G.K. Sundaram was the pioneer of the Race Course walkers club.
“I remember my childhood days, when after watching R.S. Manoharin nadagangal near the Central Jail I would go for a stroll at Race Course,” says P.N. Thangavel, who has been a regular walker for 42 years.
Sumathi K. Swamy and Kalai, college professors, say: “We befriend many during our walks. The track is crowded with walkers from 4.30 a.m. to 7.30 a.m. and again from 5 p.m.”
C. Shiva, a business man, comes to Race Course every day to play a game of shuttle for an hour with his friends at Race Course. He considers it one of the happening places in the city.
“We cherish the mornings occupying the Senior Citizen’s bench and discussing current affairs.” says A. Shyam, an ex-service man, who joins his friends Jaypal and Mani for a walk at Race Course every day.
Ragunath, the benefactor of the walkers club says: “People from all over the city come to Race Course to enjoy their walks. Twice a year medical camps are conducted at Race Course. The walkers club has appealed to the Corporation to create a parking area, as it is the need of the hour.”
Apart from the walkers, the area had several vendors selling greens, herbal juices, and grams. “But, we want the walkers to be focused. Hence, the Corporation has asked the vendors not to sell near the track during the walking hours,” says Ramasamy, president of the walkers club, which includes a group of dedicated walkers.
K. Shanmuganathan, sanitary inspector of Coimbatore Corporation, says, twice a day workers clean the pathways and the roads. The corporation has put up lights around the pathway.
Published - June 02, 2016 12:00 am IST
