As the hugely anticipated World Cup semi-final cricket match between India and Pakistan at the PCA Stadium in Mohali on March 30 approaches, the ticket chase and security arrangements have brought a festive frenzy to Chandigarh.
On Saturday, the city saw peak security as both teams arrived and arrangements were being made for VIPs who will be arriving in the coming days. Close to 1,000 police personnel are guarding the hotel where the two teams are put up.
“This is a very crucial time and we cannot take any chance. The Chandigarh police are well-prepared to handle any kind of emergency situation. We have installed jammers which detect explosives… We have requested the guests to inform us of their activity four hours in advance so that appropriate arrangements for their security can be made,” said H.S. Doon, Superintendent of Police (Traffic and Security), Chandigarh. Around 3,000 police personnel will be on patrol during Wednesday's match.
Anti-aircraft guns will be deployed and NSG commandos will join thousands of security personnel to provide security at the stadium, which will be primarily taken over by the elite Special Protection Group.
A heavy posse of undercover securitymen have fanned out and will remain on high alert during the match, which the Pakistan Prime Minister and the Governor of Pakistan's Punjab are expected to watch.
All hotels booked
The city is also witnessing a surge of fans who have booked most of the hotel rooms.
According to travel agents, hotels for all budgets have been booked for March 29 and 30. Chandigarh is 10 km from Mohali and it will be the main city where the teams, officials and most fans will camp. At the city's top two hotels — Taj and Mountview — more than half of the rooms have been reserved for the playing teams, officials and staff from the ICC, the BCCI and the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA).
The stadium is expecting jam-packed stands, including scores of Pakistani fans. Over 16,000 match tickets, PCA officials claim, were sold in a day and a half, and the remaining tickets for the 28,000-capacity stadium were bought by the ICC to be distributed to its officials and guests. It is reported that several tickets are being sold on the black market for over 10 times the actual cost.
