LAHORE, Jan 24: Three police jeeps will be ahead of runners and three behind them while a special squad comprising 40 motorcyclists and jeeps will guard the route of the Lahore Marathon on Jan 29 and 30.

District Nazim Mian Amer Mahmood said this while presiding over a meeting at the Jinnah Hall here to review the marathon arrangements. The District Nazim said the movement of tongas, rehras, donkey carts and rickshaws and kite-flying will be completely banned under Section 144 on all routes in the provincial metropolis.

He said that nearly 12,000 children of private and government schools would watch the opening and closing events of the marathon at the Gadhafi Stadium and the City District Government would make arrangements for ensuring the security of not only the players but the spectators as well.

As many as 34 first aid points would be established along the marathon route and 20 ambulances would be available for use in the event of any emergency. Refreshments, he said, would be available for the participants at 40 spots along the route.

All the roads and footpaths along the route would also be repaired immediately. He said that 42 kilometre and 10 kilometre marathon would start and conclude at the Gadhafi Stadium.

The participants would reach Lahore Fort via Ferozepur Road, Mozang Chungi, Chauburji, Lower Mall, PMG Office, Kerbala Gamay Shah, Azadi Chowk and return via Bhati Chowk, PMG Office, Shahrah-i-Quaid-i-Azam, Faisal Chowk, Canal Bridge and Canal Bank Road.

The six kilometre marathon would also start from the Gadhafi Stadium and reach the Zahoor Elahi Chowk in Gulberg via Liberty Roundabout, Gulberg Main Boulevard and Hafeez Centre and return via Gulberg Main Market, Mini Market, Ejaz Centre and Liberty Roundabout. The District Nazim directed the SP (Operations) to prepare a traffic diversion plan for the marathon within two days.