Three-tier security at Mumbai stadium

Security in and around the D Y Patil stadium, Navi Mumbai, has been tightened following the shifting of the Indian Premier League (IPL) semi-finals to Mumbai in the aftermath of the Bangalore blasts.

“All the necessary arrangements have been made at the stadium. There will be three levels of checks, one outside the entry gate, one at the gate and one upon entry. Spectators will not be allowed to carry bags, bottles or mobile phones; if they carry their mobiles they would be sent back home,” Dattatray Shinde, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Crime, Navi Mumbai, told The Hindu .

The capacity of the stadium is around 60,000 people and a large number of police personnel would be deployed on security duty on match days. Four matches are going to be held at the stadium starting Wednesday. The semi-finals are scheduled on April 21 and 22; April 24 will see a match for the third place; and the final will be held on April 25.

Ashok Dhure, DCP, Zone I, Navi Mumbai, told

The Hindu that heavy police would be deployed at entry and exit points, on the roads leading to the ground and the flyover flanking the stadium.

Other teams, such as the bomb detection and disposal squad, (BDDS), all reserved forces and technical teams would be pressed into service, Mr. Dhure said.

However, he refused to divulge the strength of the police force which would be involved in IPL security.