Tight security for India-Netherlands match

A large number of Delhi Police and private security personnel will guard the Ferozeshah Kotla ground here tomorrow for the India-Netherlands World Cup cricket match. There will be extra deployment of police personnel at the stadium where a capacity crowd is expected for the match which will start in the afternoon and special traffic arrangements have been made.

"India did not play in the previous matches held here. So the crowd was not there. But tomorrow we expect a larger crowd. We have made extra arrangements," a senior police official said.

Police had earlier conducted several mock drills at the stadium to check the preparedness of security agencies in case of any eventualities like terror strike or any disaster, the official said. Private security guards have also been deployed in the stadium to help the security forces, he said.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) personnel have also been deployed in the stadium while a large number of volunteers will help spectators who are in need. "We have made all arrangements and has put in place all the safety measures to avoid any untoward incident. The disaster management team is also here," the official said.

Police have also made elaborate traffic arrangements to ensure that there is minimum inconvenience to commuters. No parking will be allowed for general vehicles in proximity of the stadium tomorrow. For spectators, park and ride facility has been created at Mata Sundari Parking and Shanti Van Parking.

"After the conclusion of match, spectators are advised to reach park and ride places through shuttle service or by walking down. There will be very limited parking facilities for labelled vehicles in the proximity of the stadium and no parking will be allowed for general vehicles," he said.

No vehicle will be allowed to be parked on both the carriageways of Bahadurshah Zafar Marg and Jawaharlal Nehru Marg on the match days and vehicles parked on these roads will be towed away and action taken as per law, he said.

Though no diversion has been planned for B S Z Marg or J L N Marg, the official said, the general public is advised to avoid some roads from 12 pm to 3.30 pm and 09.30 pm to 11.30 pm. The stretches are Rajghat to J L N Marg, J L N Marg from Kamla Market to Raj Ghat, Asaf Ali Road from Turkman Gate to Delhi Gate and B S Z Marg from Ram Charan Agarwal Chowk to Delhi Gate.

Spectators cannot bring electronic items like laptop, camera or video camera, transistor, digital diary, remote controlled car-keys, eatables, food packets, water bottles, cigarette lighter, match boxes, knives and arms.