The nationwide Run for Unity programme to commemorate the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhai Patel has given the employees of some central government offices an unexpected half-day off on Thursday.

According to an official circular issued late on Wednesday, all government offices in and around Vijay Chowk in Delhi, will remain closed from 2 pm on Thursday to 9:30 am on Friday.

These include the North and South blocks that house the finance, home and external affairs ministries apart from the railways and agriculture.