Kataka: With barely a fortnight left for the historic Baliyatra, preparations at the fairground appear to be moving at a sluggish pace, even as traders show keen interest in setting up commercial stalls for the annual event.
Around 1,500 plots have so far completed the registration and auction process, while nearly 300 plots are yet to be allotted. A special auction for the remaining plots will be conducted on November 10. If any plots remain unsold, fresh registration will be allowed, with the allotment process open to all interested traders.
The second phase of registration is scheduled for November 11 and 12, followed by the auction on November 13. The growing interest among traders has raised expectations about the upcoming rounds of allotment.
Meanwhile, the district administration has extended the deadline for submitting tenders for installing advertisement hoardings at the upper and lower Baliyatra grounds. According to a revised notification issued by the Collector’s office, applications can now be submitted until noon on November 9, with the tenders scheduled to be opened at 2 pm the same day. The process was originally scheduled to conclude on November 6. All other conditions of the tender remain unchanged.
However, concerns are mounting over the pace of ground-level preparations. Despite the event management agency receiving the work order around 15 days ago, no significant infrastructure work appears to have begun. Even basic arrangements, including the installation of bamboo structures, are yet to take shape. Only a few swings have reportedly been brought to the ground, which continues to present a largely deserted appearance.
The delay has raised questions about the readiness of the administration and the event management agency, particularly as preparations in previous years would generally have gathered momentum by this stage. Reports of confusion during the plot auction process have added to the concerns.
The eight-day Baliyatra, one of Odisha’s major cultural and commercial events commemorating the state’s maritime heritage, will be held from November 24 to December 1.
