Odisha CM Majhi Urged Against Limiting Cuttack's Historic Bali Jatra To Lower Ground

Cuttack: Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh has urged Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to ensure that Bali Jatra, Asia’s biggest open-air trade fair, is organised in both upper and lower grounds.

In the letter, Singh said that the decision of the Cuttack administration to limit the fair to lower Bali Jatra ground has hurt the sentiments of the people of the Millennium City. It also undermines the festival’s heritage.

He further warned that designating the upper ground solely for parking could worsen the traffic situation. “Everyone will make an effort to park their vehicles in the upper ground as it will be nearer to the fairground on the lower ground. Under such circumstances, crowd management in the upper ground and also in the city will become a tough task,” he added.

Singh also submitted copies of his letter to Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, the chief secretary and the district collector.

He had earlier accused the administration of taking decisions whimsically without consulting the stakeholders.

Congress MLA from Barabati-Cuttack Sofia Firdous had recommended for organising the fair symbolically on the upper grounds with due court permission. A delegation led by Cuttack district BJP president Sukant Kumar Biswal had also met the CM requesting his intervention in this regard.

Earlier this month, Cuttack collector Dattatray Bhausaheb Shind had announced that the fair, which commemorates the rich maritime trade of Odisha, will be organised over 60 acre of land instead of 36 acres, but remain confined to lower Bali Jatra ground on the banks of the Mahanadi near Gadagadia Ghat, with parking arrangements on the upper ground area near Barabati Stadium for better crowd management and safety. It will be held for 8 days from November 5.