Cuttack: Bali Yatra, the largest open-air trade fair in Asia, will now be called ‘Historic Bali Yatra Cuttack’ and this year it will be held in the Silver City from November 5 to 12, district Collector Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde said Friday.
Chairing a preparatory meeting here ahead of the fair, Shinde said the eight-day mega event will be held on 60-acre land on Talapadia instead of the earlier 34-acre. “This year, the district administration will allow stalls on Talapadia. Cultural programmes will be held till 11pm every day,” he said. Various committees have been formed for smooth management of the fair, keeping in mind the orders of the NGT and guidelines of the Orissa High Court, he said.
The core committee under the Collector, a land allotment committee under the additional Collector (Revenue), a cultural committee under the additional Collector (Development), a programme and tender committee under the additional Collector (General), and a media coordination committee under Cuttack Sadar sub-Collector are among the panels formed for smooth conduct of the mega event, an official said. The Collector emphasised ensuring electrical, fire, and structural safety, along with third-party insurance and certification for swings and amusement rides.
All details regarding the fair will be made available through an integrated website, the official said. Departments have been instructed to improve upon last year’s arrangements in areas like law and order, traffic management, parking, sanitation, electricity supply, ground levelling, food safety, drinking water, and temporary toilets. This year, special focus will be on safety at Ormas trade fair zone.
Only approved traders will be permitted. Last year, Ormas recorded sales worth Rs 50 crore, while this year’s target is Rs 70–75 crore. Visitors will be able to identify stalls through QR code scanning.
A 24×7 barricade will be maintained in the green corridor to prevent unauthorised vehicle entry, the official said, adding that to prevent illegal parking, additional parking areas will be arranged, and CRUT buses will operate between parking zones and the fairground.
