Ahead of the 2026 Indian Premier League (IPL) matches at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, the authorities are implementing measures for crowd control and conducting mock drills to enhance safety for cricket fans. The IPL opener between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will be held on March 28 (Saturday). This year, the safety measures have been heightened following last year'sstampedetragedy, which claimed the lives of 11 people.
The Karnataka government officially cleared the Chhinaswamy stadium on March 16 to host IPL 2026 matches, set to begin this week. This came after the committee submitted its assessment report, noting that the stadium had satisfactory upgrades.
After last year's tragic incident, in which 11 people lost their lives at the RCB match in Chinnaswamy Stadium, the authorities have put stringent measures in place to avoid any such situation.
The first of two mandatory mock drills was conducted at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Monday (March 23), lasting a few hours. All key government agencies, including the police, public works department (PWD), and Greater Bengaluru Authority officials, were involved in the drills.
The authorities also reviewed logistical aspects, including the stadium's limited internal parking capacity of 30 cars and the designated VIP drop-off zones.
This year, 80 per cent of tickets will be sold online, while only 20 per cent will be available through offline counters. Moreover, tickets will be released three days before each match, with an aim to manage surging demand.
Additionally, the authorities have decided to limit ticket sales to only 28,000 people. The stadium, however, has a capacity of around 35,000 people, but several seats will remain empty to avoid congestion and overcrowding.
The stadium will be equipped with AI technology and digital cameras to monitor crowd movement. The baggage scanners and the stadium's surveillance network, which includes 450 cameras, were tested ahead of the IPL match.
There will be a total of eight ambulances stationed around the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. For every 10,000 people, one life support ambulance will be available. Moreover, an advanced life support ambulance will be deployed for every 25,000 attendees.
Additionally, first aid boxes will be put at every 500 metres within and around the stadium premises.
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