Hyderabad ready to host IPL matches: Bhagwat

• Ban on electronic gadgets including laptops, cameras, binoculars, batteries, bags, banners, cigarettes, lighters, matchboxes, coins, helmets, water bottles, metal objects and pens too would not be allowed into the stadium.
• 1,800 police personnel would be deployed around the cricket stadium

Hyderabad: Unlike in previous years when spectators were not allowed to carry mobile phones into the stadium during Indian Premier League (IPL) matches, the police has announced that mobile phones will be allowed in the stadium this year. The IPL matches to be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium at Uppal here begin on Wednesday.

However, Rachakonda Commissioner Mahesh M Bhagwat said the ban on other electronic gadgets including laptops, cameras, binoculars, batteries, bags, banners, cigarettes, lighters, matchboxes, coins, helmets, water bottles, metal objects and pens too would not be allowed into the stadium.

Disclosing this to media today he said that the security measures being taken by the Rachakonda Commissionerate for the eight matches scheduled to be held at the Uppal Stadium, Bhagwat said 1,800 police personnel would be deployed around the cricket stadium.

The Commissionerate will also deploy 250 personnel from the security wing, 270 Traffic Police personnel, 700 law and order police personnel, six platoons of armed forces, and special teams from OCTOPUS (Organisation for Counter Terrorist Operations), Special Branch and Central Crime Station. The police has already installed 88 CCTV cameras in and around the stadium. These will be monitored from a dedicated Command Control Room (CCR).

“Special parties, bomb disposal teams and anti-sabotage teams will work in tandem with the surveillance system. From now, roof-top police surveillance will also be put in place on routes leading to the stadium,” Bhagwat said, adding that two fire tenders with personnel from the Fire Services too would be deployed at the stadium.

A special police party and a team from the City Security Wing (CSW) will escort the vehicles of the players, while road clearance teams will ensure smooth entry and exit routes for the players, the Commissioner added.