Bhubaneswar: The state government on Monday approved a proposal for a festival here during the Men's Hockey World Cup in November. The festival will include international food kiosks, storytelling, art and craft exhibitions that will promote Odisha.

The proposal was approved during a review meeting of the executive committee chaired by chief secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi. The government has also decided to bring in 50 standard AC and 50 non-AC buses under the City Bus Modernisation plan as part of which renovation and construction of depots at Patrapada, Patia and Pokhariput will be taken up.

"Free Wi-Fi coverage will be provided in priority corridors with 75 locations and 300 access points before the world cup. Additional road side urinals and public toilets will also come up," said an official present at the meeting.

Padhi has asked the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) and the works department to complete infrastructure works by September. "While construction of two new additional galleries to enhance the seating capacity at the stadium has been expedited, work to re-lay the new turf in the main stadium is on in full swing. We have set a target to complete laying the turf in July before the pitch certification exercise," said a sports official.

A delegation from the International Hockey Federation visited Kalinga Stadium to inspect the venue and expressed satisfaction with the progress of infrastructure development works.