Cuttack, Nov. 8: The municipal corporation is racing against time to set up infrastructure for Bali yatra that starts on November 17.

The land on the Mahanadi river bed was damaged by cyclone Phailin and the subsequent rain last month. It has become an uphill task for the civic body to restore the place that will play host to lakhs of visitors.

“We have intensified efforts to restore the damaged ground before Bali yatra, which is barely a week away,” said mayor Saumendra Ghose.

Sources said restoration at the Mahanadi river bed was crucial keeping in view the safety of the visitors. The river has advanced 20 or 30 meters and weakened the shore. Keeping in view the sandy soil, the district administration had decided to ban joy rides at Bali yatra this year.

District administration officials said the decision was taken after conducting an inspection of the ground that has become unfit to withstand load of heavy equipment of various rides.

Corporation officials said adequate measures were being taken to restore the pathways on the ground that had been damaged by waterlogging. The civic body had developed the paths for easy movement of visitors inside the Bali yatra ground in 2011. An additional 50,000 sqft of land was also used for hosting the fair last year. The additional space was used for some kiosks, easy entry and exit of visitors and parking lots.

Bali yatra is usually held over nearly 37 acres including the Mahanadi river bed and Qila maidan in front of the Barabati fort.

“We are now levelling the ground by dumping debris and sand,” said Cuttack Municipal Corporation executive engineer Lalitamohan Das.