Bengaluru tightens IPL security

Bengaluru City Police confirmed M. Chinnaswamy will host IPL fixtures on March 28 and April 5, 2026 after a state-formed committee cleared the venue and the police issued a public advisory on revamped match-day arrangements. (thehindu.com) Match tickets are digital-only QR codes that include an integrated metro pass, will be non-transferable, and organisers said QR codes will be generated a few hours before the game to prevent scalping and queueing at counters. (thehindu.com) Gates will open four hours before each match with seven main gates and 28 entry points along Cubbon Road, pedestrian-only link roads, a ban on parking around the stadium, shuttle buses from remote parking, and designated cab pick‑up/drop‑off zones at BRV Ground and Manekshaw Parade Ground. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Security tech has been beefed up with roughly 500 CCTV cameras under real‑time AI crowd‑analytics, a police command-and-control monitoring set-up, an RCB proposal to install 300–350 AI cameras (estimated cost ~₹4.5 crore), and dedicated medical cover including nine ambulances. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com) Stadium capacity has been temporarily capped at about 28,000 (regular capacity ~35,000), organisers will push 80% of tickets online with the balance released through limited offline counters shortly before matches, and RCB says it has invested nearly ₹7 crore in crowd‑management upgrades after the June 4, 2025 stampede that killed 11 people. (news18.com) Mandatory multi‑agency mock drills involving police, PWD and civic authorities were held (first drill on March 23) and officials including DCP Akshay Hakay Machhindra, KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad and RCB management participated in inspections ahead of the reopening. (timesnownews.com)