Dikhyaa Mohanty 
District Collector Dattatreya Bhausaheb Shinde chaired a preliminary meeting on Saturday to kick off preparations for the historic Bali Jatra-2025. Senior representatives from civic organizations and the district government attended the meeting to discuss how to make this year’s event more lively and approachable. Collector Shinde emphasized that all departments must strive for excellence, with a particular emphasis on transit amenities, infrastructure development, cleanliness, dust control, and convenient parking arrangements. To guarantee efficient operation, he ordered top personnel to be designated as nodal officers for every department.
Plans were also discussed to enhance cultural programs at the Baishnab Pani and Akshaya Mohanty stages, expand the reach of the “Cuttack-in-Cuttack” initiative, and make the official souvenir more engaging and widely accessible. Safety certifications for all arrangements were also emphasized. The Collector urged all stakeholders—from small traders to government agencies—to work in close coordination to make Bali Jatra-2025 a memorable experience for visitors.
Chief Development Officer Prashant Kumar Nayak, CMC Commissioner Kirandeep Kaur Sahota, ADMs Shib Toppo, Dr. Divyalochan Mahanta, and Dr. Ipsita Priyadarshini Mishra, Sub-Collectors Prahlad Narayan Sharma (Athgarh) and Pranab Kumar Behera (Banki), CDA Secretary Sweta Kumar Dash, DIPRO Bhabani Shankar Bhuyan, District Culture Officer Nalinikant Sahu, and other high-ranking officials were present at the meeting.
