I-T officer cycles 50km daily, come rain, shine or chill

LUDHIANA: Entrusted with the task of collecting taxes and nabbing tax evaders, one always imagines income tax officers to prefer remaining indoors and spend a majority of their time behind huge piles of files. But for Income Tax Officer (ITO) Rakesh Garg (39), who works in the IT department at the Rishi Nagar office, his day does not finish until he cycles 50km in the early morning every day.

Whether it is scorching heat, torrential rain, or freezing cold, Garg has made it a point not to skip cycling even on Sundays, and unlike his colleagues, he commutes to his office on his bicycle itself. So much is his love for cycling that he sometimes cycles all the way from his Chandigarh home to Ludhiana. Recently, he cycled 500km on the strenuous Manali-Spiti stretch, which he completed in just six days, a distance that would normally take at least 10 days.

A native of Karnal, ITO Garg got into cycling in 2014 when he was posted in the I-T department at Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. Speaking to TOI, Garg said: “I got this habit from my friends who are cycling enthusiasts. It started as a fun activity for me, but it became my passion within no time, and now, in addition to being a fitness activity for me, it is also a stress-buster that helps me a lot considering the kind of profile I have. I derive inspiration for this passion from nature, and the constant support of my seniors, who are always motivating me to set new records.

Garg, who has been associated with renowned cycling groups — including Chandigarh Cycling Club, Riders of the Storm, Tour de Himalaya, Miles n Smiles, East Delhi Riders, etc — has successfully completed professional cycling tours and competitions, including Go Green cycle tour to Dharamshala, 2017 cycling tour to Almora, Manali-Leh stretch, Delhi-Panipat (Lakshay night ride).

Garg further said: “In today’s fast-changing world, when people have no time to go to gyms for workout or joining some sport to remain fit, cycling is the best option, as one can make this a part of his daily routine by commuting to his office and other places, which also saves the person from the hassles of getting stuck in traffic jams, besides keeping oneself fit.”

Sharing details of his future plans, Garg said: “I am eyeing the conquest of the 400km-long Pangi Valley cycling route — which covers Keylong, Udaipur, Killar, Pangi, Chamba and is considered to be the toughest cycling trail in the country.”