Cuttack, Aug 30: The district administration has kicked off preparations for the historic Bali Jatra Cuttack Utsav 2025 with a high-level preliminary meeting chaired by District Collector and Magistrate Dattatraya Bhausaheb Shinde.

Senior officials from various departments participated in the meeting to strategize and coordinate efforts for making this year’s festival more vibrant and inclusive than ever before.

The Collector emphasized enhancing every aspect of the festival — from infrastructure and sanitation to crowd management and cultural programming. Special focus was placed on improving the festival grounds, dust control measures, and transportation facilities to ensure a smooth experience for visitors.

Each department has been instructed to appoint a nodal officer to oversee execution and coordination. Plans are underway to make the cultural programmes at the Vaishnav Pani and Akshaya Mohanty stages more captivating, while the popular “Cuttack-in-Cuttack” segment will be revamped to attract wider public interest.

The meeting also discussed the release of a Bali Jatra souvenir, which will be made more reader-friendly and distributed on time. The Collector stressed the importance of ensuring safety certifications and maintaining high standards across all festival zones.

From vendors to tourists, the administration aims to create a people-centric plan that caters to all stakeholders. The goal is to make Bali Jatra 2025 not just a celebration of heritage, but a memorable experience for everyone involved.

Among the attendees were Cuttack Municipal Commissioner Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, Additional Collectors Dr. Dibyalochan Mohanta, Dr. Ipsita Priyadarshini Mishra, and Shibo Toppo, along with senior officials from development, culture, and public relations departments.

With meticulous planning and inter-departmental coordination, Cuttack is poised to host a grand and unforgettable Bali Jatra this year.