BHUBANESWAR: To draw crowd to Puri Beach Festival this year, the State Government is planning to bring in hot-air balloons as a special attraction. The Ballooning Club of India will hold the hot-air balloon show during the festival which will kick off on November 22. Besides, plans are on for para-sailing, surfing, kite fighting and sand art programmes to make the festival attractive. This was informed at the preparatory meet held here on Friday. Panchayati Raj Minister Maheswar Mohanty and Culture Minister Prafulla Samal attended the meeting. Among the thrust areas, the State Government is keen to improve security for tourists during the festival. Since swimming is a major attraction among tourists at Puri, the Government has asked the district administration to press in more number lifeguards along the beach to avoid rising incidence of drowning. Besides, nolias (expert local fishermen) will be deployed too. During the Rath Yatra, Puri Police had pressed into service 100 such fishermen at the beach. Apart from streamlining traffic and parking facilities in the City, large number of canopies and shelter points will be created along the beach which will be cleaned well in advance.
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