Calcutta: The Book Fair will shift to Central Park in Salt Lake next year, the move necessitated by the government's decision to overhaul Milan Mela, where the annual event has been held since 2009.

"We had submitted a list of alternative venues to Nabanna. The chief minister's office informed us on Tuesday that Central Park will be the venue," said Tridib Chattopadhayay, secretary of the Publishers and Booksellers Guild, the organisers of the fair.

The 42nd edition of the International Calcutta Book Fair will be held from January 30 to February 11.

"Chief minister Mamata Banerjee will inaugurate the fair in keeping with the tradition," Chatterjee said.

The fair used to be held on the Maidan till the high court forced the organisers to shift from the heart of the city in 2008 to prevent the multi-day assault on the greens.

The fair was held in the Salt Lake stadium compound for a year before being shifted to Milan Mela - off the Bypass. The government has decided to overhaul the 31,000sq m ground on the lines of Pragati Maidan, the permanent fair venue in Delhi.

"Work is likely to start towards the end of this year and will continue for around a year," said an official of the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, the custodian of Milan Mela.

Guild insiders said they would meet next week to discuss about the number of stalls that can be accommodated in the new venue. Accordingly, arrangements for lights and other amenities will be made.

The authorities' biggest challenge will be controlling traffic around the fair venue. in Salt Lake. An officer of the Bidhannagar police commissionerate said a blueprint of traffic circulation would be prepared in consultation with the Guild officials.