(From top) Work on for erection of kiosks, the temporary welcome gate to the Bali yatra ground under construction and heavy rush of vehicles on Ring Road near the festival ground in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Nov. 7: The preparations for the upcoming Bali yatra festival have almost reached the final stages with artisans and officials gearing up to complete the ground work before the deadline. Over three to four lakh people are expected to throng the Millennium City for the historic Bali yatra festivities.

The city police have planned special measures for better crowd management during the six-day long festival starting from November 10.

“Adequate measures would be undertaken for the smooth conduct of the biggest fair that draws crowd from different parts of the state and emphasis would be given on better crowd control,” said deputy commissioner of police S. Praveen Kumar.

Over 40 platoons of police personnel would be deployed besides quick reaction teams and three watchtowers would be erected at different locations on the Bali yatra ground to deal with any untoward incident.

A close vigil would be kept on “mischief mongers” and “eve-teasers” during the festival. According to senior police officials, different aid posts would also be set up for assistance.

This year the Bali yatra would be observed on over 37 acres of land including two grounds in front of Barabati fort and Mahanadi river bed. Official sources said over 1,300 kiosks and pavilions selling food, displaying the rich and ethnic and rural crafts from Orissa and other states would come up at the largest fair in the state.

“We are waiting for Bali yatra festivities to begin as we get an opportunity to buy a lot of household articles of daily use at reasonable prices. Bali yatra is observed to pay tribute to our ancestors and it also reminds us of our rich maritime trade,” said Umesh Rout, a local resident.

Besides, the city police have also made special provisions for the smooth flow of traffic during the Bali yatra.

During the occasion, vehicles coming from Matamatha would be diverted towards Mudasahi from where they would be allowed to reach the Bali yatra ground. No vehicle would be allowed to pass through Cantonment police station and vehicles from Deer park side would be allowed directly to move towards Madhusudannagar.

The people can park their vehicles at Madhusudan Nagar parking lot and move straight towards the Gadagadia ghat.

The vehicles coming from Buxi Bazaar would not be allowed to move straight towards Barabati stadium. People can move towards the Bali yatra ground after parking their vehicles at Dayashram near Kala Bikash Kendra.

“The one-way traffic arrangements will be implemented from 3pm in the afternoon till 1pm midnight throughout the six-day festival from November 10. Adequate traffic constables and officers would be deployed to regulate and divert the vehicles as per the arrangements,” said a traffic official.