Tender floated for Bali Yatra 2022: small vendors object to stall price

Cuttack, Oct 8: The Cuttack district administration on Friday initiated tender process for stall distribution ahead of maritime trade fair Bali Yatra 2022. While the district administration had sold per square foot land at Rs 27 in 2019, this year it has floated tender at Rs 50 minimum price per square foot floating tender in the upper field. Besides, the lower field will go to tender as 'Prime Spot' starting from 1000-squarefoot on wards at Rs 500 per square foot. The small vendors have raised concern over the unexpected hike of stall distribution price. However, Collector Bhabani Shankar Chayani said small vendors can open their shop for eight days at just Rs 1,000. A special arrangement has been made for them. But there will be no change in stall distribution process. Earlier, Chayani had said that the district administration is planning to organize the Bali Yatra in collaboration with several private organizations through the tender process. Notably, the privatization initiative was taken in 2019 by deploying a private organization for some cultural events. However, no tender was floated for this. This year, the district administration has planned to float tender for stall distribution, stage, license, security, and event management, said a senior official engaged in the organization of the historic fair. The week-long maritime trade fair will be observed from November 8 this year. The state cultural department has provided a grant of Rs 20 lakh for various programs to be organized at the festival.