BBMP demands 450 VIP passes for IPL matches

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The IPL matches in Bengaluru have fueled a rift between the KSCA and the BBMP.

According to sources, BBMP had demanded around 450 VIP tickets for corporators to watch the ongoing IPL matches. However, KSCA has agreed to give only 250 general tickets.

This has upset the corporators and Deputy mayor S. Harish has written to KSCA returning all the tickets, sources said.

City IPL matches under hawk’s eyes

The city police have made elaborate security arrangements in and around Chinnaswamy stadium in view of the IPL 2012 matches which will be held in Bengaluru from April 7.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) T. Suneel Kumar told the media that nearly 1,200 policemen will be deployed in and around the stadium in view of the IPL matches. This will include three DCPs, 21 ACPs, 40 inspectors, 92 sub-inspectors, 800 civil policemen, bomb defusing/disposal squads, dog squads, quick reaction teams and others.

Also, 76 CCTVs would be fitted in and around the stadium with round the clock monitoring. Policemen would be deployed at all gates to videograph the entry and exit of the public.

One Hoysala and four Cheetah patrol vehicles will keep watch around the stadium round-the-clock. The policemen have been instructed to question any suspects, he added. It may be recalled that there were two low-intensity blasts outside Chinnaswamy Stadium in April 2010, in which eight persons had sustained injuries. Another bomb was defused outside Gate 8.

The explosions took place outside Gate 12 of the stadium. The explosive material was concealed in a plastic bag and placed near the wall behind an advertisement board.

The traffic police have also asked the cricket buffs heading to the stadium to switch to public transport from April 7.

The traffic police have made arrangements for parking of vehicles and diversion of traffic during match hours. The officials said BMTC will provide extra buses after IPL matches to major areas in the city. “We are asking people to make best use of public transport system - Metro, BMTC buses and autorickshaws. Since the parking is provided at Kanteerava Stadium and part of Cubbon Park, cricket fans are advised to use public transport,” said transport officials.