Rajkot: The District Collector of Rajkot convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the upcoming Janmashtami Lok Mela, set to take place at the Racecourse Ground from August 24th to 28th. In the meeting it was decided that the Collector’s office will secure an insurance cover of Rs. 7.5 crore for the annual fair.

Talking about the fair District Collector, Prabhav Joshi, stated, “The administration is making efforts to ensure this year’s fair is safer and more convenient. There has been no increase in stall prices for this year’s fair. The insurance cover, which was Rs. 5 crore last year, has been increased to Rs. 7.5 crore this year. This year, five ambulances will be arranged compared to three last year, and five firefighters will be deployed instead of three. The number of security staff has increased from 100 to 125 per day for the fair.”

“The number of stalls has been reduced by 30 percent to ease the movement of people. Entry to the Lok Mela will close at 11:30 PM. The cleaning staff at the fair will be honored, and the decibel level of noise generated at the fair will be closely monitored. Stale food will be destroyed on-site. With the Sandhiya bridge closed, traffic and parking arrangements will be more manageable. Each government stall at the fair will be equipped with intercoms and walkie-talkies for internal communication,” the IAS officer added.

During the meeting, the administration also reviewed various logistical aspects of the fair, including law and order, security measures, CCTV coverage, advertisement banners, draw and auction processes, electric lighting and sound, cultural programs, stage construction, fair cleaning, and committees for price regulation, pollution control, tax management, and pressure.

As of Tuesday morning, a total of 604 forms for stall plots have been distributed, with 486 applications returned. This includes 227 for games, 59 for food and drink stalls, 92 for mechanical rides, and 8 for ice cream stalls. The deadline for stall applications has been extended by two days, allowing submissions until Thursday.

Additionally, a competition is underway to select a catchy title for the Lok Mela. To date, over 500 names have been suggested, and citizens are encouraged to submit their ideas via email to lokmelarajkot@gmail.com, with today being the last day for submissions. DeshGujarat