Depending on whom you ask, the 'Vizag Run' seems to have been either great fun or a big let down. Notwithstanding that, several thousand Vizagites of all age groups participated in the run which was organised to increase 'awareness on health'. One of the dampers seems to have been the Rs.30/- 'registration fee' charged by the organisers.

Four-year-old Budia Singh of Bhubaneswar, who runs for 85 km daily, was the star attraction. Upcoming Tollywood actors Rohit, Tarakaratna, comedians Siva Reddy, Rajesh and dialogue king Sai Kumar, played the role of cheer leaders and encouraged the runners.

However, there was mixed response from the participants. Speaking to VizagCityOnline.Com Ravi, a regular runner who also plays shuttle badminton at the Railway Institute added: "Such events should be held every month without charging any registration fee to motivate people in maintaining good health and physique."

"Participating in the Run was real fun and I really enjoyed every moment of it," said Sravani, a 10th standard student of Little Flower School.

Phanindra, a Central Government employee who participated in the Run said: "The organisers failed to provide water en route to the runners and the distribution of certificates to participants was not done in an orderly manner."

A Naval employee who came to participate in the event along with his family of four, went back disappointed when he was told to register their names by paying Rs 30 for an adult and Rs 10 for a child.

Vizagites will have to shell out a couple of more rupees to the autowallah with the RTA increasing the minimum fare to Rs 10/- from the present Rs 7.80. But with Vizagites having become wiser nowadays by sharing a ride with other passengers, this has not made a material difference. Speaking to VizagCityOnline.com, Nooka Raju an auto driver of Kancharapalem said: "As passengers prefer to share the fares, they prefer to travel without the meter turned on. This way, we earn more than the meter charge and they end up paying less than the normal meter fare."

Mrs. N.Sridevi, an employee of ICICI Bank, a frequent 'share-auto' passenger says: "It is faster than the city bus and eliminates the wait for the bus". Said Ravi, an employee of Varun Motors, who commutes by autos every day: "I avoid traveling alone as it costs me more and prefer sharing the auto with others, which is cheaper."

Nooka Raju an auto driver of Kancharapalem

Despite the price of gold soaring to an 18 year high (it was 710 per 1 gram on 7.12.05), the rush for the yellow metal by Vizagites is as strong as ever. While part of this can be attributed to the current 'marriage season', the insatiable lust for gold by the women of Vizag as the reason for the still strong demand cannot be ruled out.

Speaking to VizagCityOnline.com, Mr Sri Ranga of MVS Jewel Park said that the price of gold has been increasing daily by three to four rupees. A housewife, Mrs Srilakshmi of Gnanapuram area, who came to buy gold ear-studs for her daughter said: "We know that the price of gold has recently increased abnormally, but without gold ornaments our daughters might be thought of as being from poor families!''

Not everybody is willing to buy at these prices though: Mr Venkatesan of Birla Sun Life who came to enquire about the cost of a gold bracelet went away by stating that he would come again when prices were lower!