Bidhannagar Police have deployed personnel inside and around Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium ahead of Saturday’s India-Brazil football match, with three-tier security checks, digital ticket verification and traffic restrictions planned to manage spectators and vehicles.
The arrangements at Yuva Bharati Krirangan were announced by Bidhannagar Police Commissioner Rathore Amit Kumar Bharat at a press conference on Friday. He said the measures were intended to ensure the safety and convenience of spectators, with police personnel positioned at strategic points to manage entry, movement and exit from the venue.
Digital verification of tickets will be conducted at stadium entry points as part of the three-tier security system. Police have also issued a list of items that spectators will not be allowed to carry inside the venue. The list includes narcotics, laser lights, firecrackers, smoke candles, lighters, cigarettes and other inflammable substances.
Banners, hoardings, posters, umbrellas, water bottles, food items, sharp objects and weapons have also been prohibited. Alcohol and other intoxicants will not be permitted inside the stadium. The restrictions are intended to reduce security risks and prevent congestion during checks at the entry gates.
Police officials have placed particular emphasis on avoiding a repeat of the disorder witnessed around the Lionel Messi event at the stadium last year. That event drew widespread criticism over crowd management and the handling of spectators. The latest deployment has therefore been planned for areas inside the venue as well as roads and access points surrounding it.
Spectators have been advised to reach the stadium at least two hours before kick-off. They must be inside the venue by 5 pm to avoid last-minute crowding at the gates. After the match, attendees have been asked to leave in an orderly manner, follow designated exit routes and comply with temporary traffic diversions rather than rushing towards the exits.
Parking will not be allowed on the main roads around the stadium. Vehicles will have to use designated parking zones, while spectators must follow specified entry and drop-off points. Police said action would be taken against vehicles parked in unauthorised areas.
Those travelling by private vehicles have been advised to use designated parking facilities and, where possible, travel in groups. Police have also urged spectators to use public transport, including the Metro and trains, to reduce pressure on roads around the stadium. Motorists have been asked to follow road signs and directions issued by traffic personnel during the match-related diversions.
Spectators have additionally been advised to carry fully charged mobile phones and cooperate with police personnel and volunteers. The Bidhannagar Police said their primary focus would be maintaining security and ensuring smooth traffic movement before, during and after the match.
