Cuttack Mayor Subhash Singh has written to Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, urging permission to use the upper ground for the upcoming Bali Yatra 2025, stressing that confining the iconic fair only to the lower ground could hurt public sentiment and dilute its centuries-old heritage.
Speaking to reporters, Singh warned that converting the upper ground into a parking area could lead to severe crowding and traffic snarls during the eight-day festival, scheduled from November 5 to 12, 2025. Copies of his appeal have been forwarded to Cuttack MP Bhartruhari Mahtab, the Chief Secretary, and the district Collector.
Administration’s Stand
The Cuttack district administration has decided to restrict commercial stalls to the lower ground near Gadagadia Ghat this year, citing the need for better crowd control and safety. Officials stated that previous editions using both grounds posed coordination challenges and made visitor management difficult.
Residents and Heritage Activists Demand Reconsideration
Local heritage activists and cultural organisations have also appealed to the government to reconsider the decision, arguing that the upper ground has historically been an integral part of Cuttack’s 1,000-year-old maritime trade tradition celebrated through Bali Yatra.
2025 Bali Yatra Plans
This year’s Bali Yatra will cover an expanded 60-acre area (up from 34 acres in earlier years) and feature:
-
Two dedicated cultural performance stages
-
Over 50 special buses for visitor transport
-
Daily events concluding at 11 PM, with emphasis on promoting Odia language and literature
The Mayor’s intervention has sparked renewed public debate over striking a balance between safety protocols and preserving cultural heritage.
