Cuttack, Nov. 4: The district administration is gearing up for the upcoming Bali yatra festival. It conducted an on-spot assessment of the venue today.

Senior officials of the district administration and Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) conducted the assessment of the ground.

The inspection of the ground assumes significance, as the district administration is keen on holding the annual festival that draws over 10 lakh people from various parts of the state, on a bigger scale this year.

An official source said the festival is usually held in 37acres that includes the Kila Maidan and the banks of the Mahanadi river. The area is expected to be expanded for better crowd management this year.

The Bali yatra festival that is scheduled to kick-start from November 25 will be insured for Rs 4.5crore, which was decided at a preparatory meeting held on Tuesday.

"This time we are expecting nearly 1,500 stalls to come up during the Bali yatra and our focus will be on better crowd management, wider pathways, adequate parking and sanitation facilities," said district collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra.

Mishra informed that keeping in view the power crisis in the state, adequate steps would be taken for emergency lighting arrangements in case of any power failure.

Generators as well as Volvo lights will be deployed to avoid any kind of untoward incident during the festival.

The district administration has asked the officials of the CMC to complete necessary ground works, including development of pathways, levelling of the ground and draw up an action plan for better sanitation measures during the week-long festival.

"The sale of plots will start from November 10. The price of the plot remains unchanged at Rs 22 per sqft so as to draw more entrepreneurs and individuals to set up kiosks during the festival," said tehsildar Abani Patnaik.

"We have asked the officials of the municipal corporation to complete the levelling work of the ground, particularly at the Mahandi bedside as additional 15,000 to 30,000 sqft of land is expected to be extended this year," said Patnaik.

Senior officials of the CMC informed that efforts are on to ensure proper sanitation during the Bali Yatra festival as steps are being taken to procure mobile toilets from Puri municipality.

The mobile toilets will play a crucial role in ensuring sanitation and maintain hygiene.

A detailed plan is also being prepared for ensuring the sale of products in polythene bags is restricted during the biggest fair of the state.

Though the civic body sets up stalls to facilitate sale of cotton and other alternative carry bags, the administration is planning to make alternative arrangements for an eco-friendly festival this year.