T’puram: Bollywood actor and long-distance runner Milind Soman is set to run along the state’s Hill Highway. Kerala is gearing up for the event set to be organized by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). Soman will participate in the run on Feb 22, at 7am, along the Elappara–Kanchiyar stretch of the Hill Highway in Idukki. ‘Hill Highway Run’ will cover a distance of 22 km from Elappara to Kanchiyar town via Chappath. The run is being organized as part of the KIIFB campaign to promote its projects in the state. The Hill Highway in Idukki was completed under the leadership of KIIFB at an estimated cost of Rs 134.4 crore. The total length of the highway extends over 1,332 km from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram. KIIFB adopted the rare and advanced FDR (full depth reclamation) technology for the construction of the highway. This eco-friendly method enhances durability and resilience against natural calamities, ensuring long-term strength for the road. Connecting 13 districts of Kerala along the fringes of Western Ghats, the highway is equipped with dedicated utility ducts for electricity and internet cables, as well as modern drainage systems. Rest areas and scenic viewpoints were set up every 50km for travellers. The highway also emerged as a major tourist attraction, promoted as part of the ‘Spice Route’. The announcement video of Hill Highway Run, shared by Milind Soman with the call ‘Ennal Vaa…’ (Come, then), already went viral on social media. Registrations for the run are open through KIIFB’s official website (www.kiifb.org) and via its WhatsApp bot (+91 9072000430), offering participants a chance to run alongside Soman.
