Preparations for Odisha’s historic Bali Yatra fair are under way in Cuttack, with the district administration successfully allocating approximately 1,500 commercial plots so far while scheduling a special auction on 10 November 2026 to clear the remaining 300 stalls.
The iconic eight-day open-air trade fair, which celebrates Odisha’s rich maritime history and ancient Boita Bandana traditions, is set to run from 24 November to 1 December 2026 along the upper and lower fairgrounds on the banks of the Mahanadi River.
Plot Allotment Schedule & Extension of Tender Deadlines
Due to high demand from regional traders and commercial vendors, the district administration has outlined a multi-phase registration and allotment framework:
- Special Auction Date: Unallotted plots will be auctioned on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
- Phase Two Registration: Fresh vendor registrations for any unsold stalls will take place on 11 and 12 November, followed by a final auction round on 13 November.
- Advertisement Tender Extended: The Cuttack Collectorate extended the submission deadline for installing commercial advertisement hoardings across the upper and lower grounds until 12:00 PM on 9 November, with tender opening set for 2:00 PM the same day.
Ground-Level Infrastructure & Readiness Overview
Local authorities and event management agencies are speeding up initial ground layout tasks ahead of the grand opening:
- Ground Setup: Civil teams are setting up temporary bamboo structures, main gate archways, and safety barricades along the Mahanadi riverbank grounds.
- Amusement Zone Setup: Contractors have begun moving heavy machinery, amusement rides, and family carnival swings onto designated plots.
- Utility Deployment: Municipal authorities are deploying temporary water sanitation pipelines, power lines, and emergency medical camps to manage massive daily crowds.
