Members of the bicycle expedition pose for a photograph in Bathinda on Saturday. A Tribune photograph

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 22

The 15-day bicycle expedition with camel safari, led by the ‘Team AREN’, Chetak Signallers, culminated here today. The expedition was flagged in by Lieutenant General Ashwani Kumar, VSM, General Officer Commanding, Chetak Corps, yesterday.It covered a distance of 712 km starting from Bathinda and explored the important towns and cities of Muktsar, Abohar, Sri Ganganagar, Suratgarh, Mahajan, Lunkaransar, Bikaner, Surnana, Birdhwal, Hanumangarh and Mandi Dabwali.The team had a refreshing and challenging exposure of the rugged terrain of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan during the course of the expedition.The aim of the expedition was to reach out to veterans, foster a spirit of adventure and camaraderie among the members of the expedition team and spread awareness about the Indian Army among the youth and motivate them to join the army.The team interacted with veterans along the way and also interacted with schoolchildren and youth, spreading the message of national integrity and educating the youth about various opportunities available for joining the Indian Army.The expedition team also highlighted schemes of the Central Government initiated towards the development of society and the nation.