Cuttack: Higher rentals and the administration’s direction to the carnival ride owners not to raise ticket prices have compelled a few of them to give the Bali Yatra fair a miss this year.
The authorities have raised the plot rentals besides altering the allocation of a few plots for setting up of the amusement rides. As a result as many as 11 traders from across the country, who used to set up giant wheels and other carnival rides every year, are reluctant to do it this time fearing it would not reap much profit.
“Now we’ve to pay Rs 9,000 as rental for putting up each amusement ride which was earlier Rs 5,000 per day. Besides, I’m not allotted the plot where I was setting up the rides for several years,” said Biplab Bhoumik, a trader from Kolkata. Biplab is likely to skip the Yatra this year.
According to Farid Baux, another amusement ride owner from Jamshedpur, the administration has raised the plot rentals on one hand and has asked them to refrain from hiking ticket prices on the other. “It’s better to avoid putting up amusement rides this year than setting up a ride at a place where there is no scope for business,” Baux added.
Sources said even though only a couple of days are left for the historical trade fair, not a single giant wheel trader is keen to set up the rides.
Expressing concern, district Collector Aravind Agrawal said they are trying every way out to convince the giant wheel traders. “Crowd management has been prioritised during the plot allocation. Hence, there shouldn’t be any issue if a few carnival ride traders couldn’t get plots at the same place where they used to,” Agrawal added.
Every year, traders willing to set up amusement rides gear up much beforehand and reach the fairground at least 10 days before the trade fair. “However, this year, nothing significant has been seen so far although a few days are left for the trade fair. So chances are more that Bali Yatra-hoppers won’t be able to enjoy the giant wheels and other carnival rides this year,” Bali Yatra Traders’ Association secretary Sukant Mohanty said.
PNN