T20 cricket match: Cops to control Greenfield Stadium

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nothing that bears semblance to the hooligan attack on Australian cricket team bus at Guwahati can be repeated in Thiruvananthapuram during India Vs New Zealand T20 cricket match, say cops who have made elaborate security plans. From November 1, the stadium will be under police control, said city police commissioner P. Prakash. All constructions in the stadium will have to be completed before that, as per the understanding cops had with organisers during past three review meetings.

Repeated bomb and sabotage checks will be done inside and on a large radius around the stadium. “Stadium employees will be given special Id cards, No outsiders will be allowed to enter until the day of match,” said Kazhakoottam cyber city assistant commissioner Pramod Kumar. With over 50,000 people expected in stadium, the parking facility for 2,000 cars here will be inadequate. During the National Games, the roadside parking on Kazhakoottam-Kariyavattom road had caused traffic snarls.

“Additional parking will be arranged inside Kerala University campus and LNCPE campus,” officials said. The CCTVS have already been installed within and on the roads leading to stadium. Barricades were being constructed and vehicle under body scanners and metal detectors will be installed days ahead of the match.

A superintendent of police (SP) will be the security in charge for the teams that will arrive in a chartered flight on November 5, two days prior to the match. There will be large scale deployment around Leela Kovalam where the teams will stay. Convoy members will conduct trial runs on Kovalam-Kazhakoottam highway before the team being shuttled on luxury buses, officials said.