The State Government has decided to observe Kalinga Baliyatra-2016 in a grand manner at Paradip this year as part of the Biju Patnaik birth centenary celebrations.
A preparatory meeting was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary AP Padhi in this regard at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday.
Information and Public Relations Secretary Manoranjan Panigrahi presented proposed programmes on sea voyage as part of the celebration.
Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan, Tourism Principal Secretary Gagan Kumar Dhal, I andPR Director Sushil Kumar Das, Sports and Youth Services Director Anant Kishore Jena and several senior officials of Indian Navy participated in the discussion.
The Kalinga Baliyatra was first held on November 10, 1992 on Kartik Purnima to mark the glorious maritime trade of Kalinga (now Odisha).
The then Chief Minister Biju Patnaik had inaugurated the week-long event.
Tourism Department has been designated as the nodal agency for the voyage programme that would be organised in cooperation with Indian Navy.
Padhi suggested senior naval officers to select the vessel, route and date for the proposed sea voyage.