Bhubaneswar: The Bhubaneswar Bali Jatra is set to become bigger this year, with the event committee planning to increase the number of stalls to 1,000 and expand the fairground to around 15 acres to accommodate the growing number of visitors.

The annual fair, organised on the Kuakhai riverside, will be held from November 24 to December 2. Preparations have begun at the Barimunda riverbank, where the ground-levelling work started with a traditional coconut-breaking ceremony.

With around a month left for the festival, the Bhubaneswar Bali Jatra Committee has decided to complete the necessary groundwork and infrastructure development well before the event begins.

Four parking zones to ease traffic congestion

To manage the expected rush and reduce traffic congestion, the committee will arrange parking facilities at four locations this year, compared to three earlier.

Vehicles approaching the fairground from Patia will be parked at a ground in Barimunda. Those arriving from the Hi-Tech side along the National Highway will be directed to the right side of the Escape Gada.

Vehicles coming from Gandarpur, Barang and Pratapnagari in Cuttack will be parked near the Lakheshwar Temple in Barimunda. An additional large parking area will also be developed close to the festival ground.

400 volunteers, police personnel to ensure security

The committee will deploy around 400 volunteers, along with Police Mitra personnel, reserve police personnel and Commissionerate Police staff, to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Around 100 CCTV cameras will be installed across the fairground to strengthen surveillance.

The committee has also decided to make the festival pollution-free. As the movement of thousands of visitors every day often causes dust to rise, tarpaulin sheets will be laid across the entire fairground to minimise dust pollution.

New access road, temporary bridge planned

At present, only two sloping roads provide access to the festival ground. An additional road will be opened from the Mancheswar side to facilitate the movement of visitors, as a large number of people use this route.

A temporary bridge will also be constructed across the Kuakhai River, as in previous years, to provide access to visitors coming from Ward No. 4 on the opposite side of the river.

Cultural programmes every evening

Cultural programmes will be organised every evening during the nine-day event. With lakhs of visitors expected to attend, the committee is also focusing on essential facilities, including drinking water, electricity, fire safety, sanitation and emergency response arrangements.

The committee has proposed convening a coordination meeting under the chairmanship of the Khordha district collector soon. Officials from the concerned departments will discuss security, drinking water supply, electricity, fire services, and sanitation to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the fair.