Punjab Newsline,Sports:
Cabinet to Take Final Call on Chinnaswamy Stadium After High-Level Meeting
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday held a high-level meeting to review a proposal to host the inaugural match of the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) season at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The final decision will be taken by the State Cabinet later in the evening.
The meeting, chaired by Home Minister G. Parameshwara at Vidhana Soudha, was attended by representatives of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and senior government and police officials. The development assumes significance as the stadium was barred from hosting matches following the June 4, 2025 stampede during celebrations of RCB’s maiden IPL title, in which 11 people lost their lives.
Among those present were Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Tushar Girinath, DGP and IGP M.A. Saleem, Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Home Secretary K.V. Sharath Chandra, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh, KSCA President Venkatesh Prasad, senior KSCA officials and RCB office-bearers.
Addressing the media after the meeting, Parameshwara said discussions focused on implementing key recommendations of the retired Justice Michael D’Cunha Commission, which was constituted to probe the stampede incident. He said KSCA and RCB have been directed to implement major recommendations and have already begun compliance in several areas.
A committee headed by GBA Chairman Maheshwar Rao, with representatives from the police, PWD and Health Department, examined the preparedness and submitted its report, which was deliberated during the two-hour meeting. The recommendations include infrastructure upgrades such as improved gates, walkways and holding areas, along with non-infrastructure measures like ambulance deployment, availability of doctors and triage facilities.
Parameshwara clarified that responsibility in case of any untoward incident would lie with the event organisers — KSCA and RCB. He said short-term measures have been completed, while medium- and long-term works are underway. The Cabinet’s decision is expected to determine whether the IPL opener will return to Chinnaswamy Stadium.