The iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack is all set to host an international T20 cricket match between India and South Africa on December 9. Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, a high-level preparatory meeting was held on Wednesday at the Lok Seva Bhavan under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Chief Minister’s Directive: “Ensure Flawless Execution”
During the meeting, Chief Minister Majhi issued strict directives to ensure the match is conducted in a smooth, secure, and error-free manner.
“Odisha has earned a reputation for successfully organizing international sporting events. Barabati Stadium has a glorious legacy of hosting such matches in a disciplined manner,” the Chief Minister said.
He further emphasized that since cricket is a hugely popular sport in India, global attention will be on this event. “Every measure must be taken to protect the dignity and reputation of Odisha. The match should be managed with zero lapses,” he added.
Security on High Alert
In light of the recent explosion in Delhi, the Chief Minister directed the police administration to make foolproof security arrangements for players and spectators.
Police officials have been asked to stay on high alert throughout the event.
A ‘Green Corridor’ will be established to ensure quick medical evacuation of any ailing or injured spectators. Other arrangements such as crowd control, ticket distribution, and emergency medical response will be monitored closely to prevent any inconvenience.
Focus on Lighting, Traffic, and Crowd Management
OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera presented a detailed report on the stadium’s preparedness. Key topics discussed included ticket sales, spectator facilities, lighting systems, stadium infrastructure, fire safety, parking, and traffic management.
Each stand will accommodate spectators strictly as per capacity. To prevent any technical glitches, additional gensets (power backup units) have been installed, supported by a new monitoring software.
“In case one genset fails, the backup system will immediately take over to ensure uninterrupted lighting throughout the match,” Behera informed.
Learning from the February Power Failure
Officials recalled the embarrassing power failure during the India–England ODI held in February this year, when a floodlight malfunction halted play for around 35 minutes. The incident had drawn severe criticism from across the country and abroad, tarnishing the image of the Odisha Government, the OCA, and the BCCI.
Determined to avoid a repeat of such a situation, the state government has taken extra precautions this time to ensure flawless power and event management at the stadium.
Key Dignitaries Attend Review Meeting
Apart from the Chief Minister, the meeting was attended by Sports and Youth Services Minister Surya Vanshi Suraj, OCA member and Angul MLA Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Chief Minister’s Advisor Prakash Mishra, and Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, among others.
All departments — from police and health to public works and energy — have been directed to work in close coordination to make the December 9 T20 match a memorable and incident-free event.