Cops Tighten Vigil Ahead of IPL Matches

Hyderabad:In a major surveillance boost ahead of IPL 2026 matches to be hosted here, police have installed an additional 100 CCTV cameras at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, taking the total to 430. Matches will be held on April 5 and May 22 at the stadium, which has a seating capacity of around 39,000.

According to Uppal DCP K. Suresh Kumar, nearly 2,000 police personnel will be deployed as well as four fire tenders.

The officer also added that a joint command and control room has been established to monitor CCTV footage in real time for immediate response. Anti-sabotage checks will be conducted round-the-clock, supported by sniffer dogs and bomb disposal squads. Scanners installed at entry points will help detect explosives and prohibited items.

Gate No. 1 at the stadium has been reserved for players, while spectators will be allowed entry through designated gates as per their tickets. An evacuation plan has also been put in place. Communication has been strengthened with VHF sets issued to officers for quick coordination.

Suresh Kumar said special SHE Teams and anti-woman harassment squads will be deployed, while vendor monitoring teams will regulate prices and prevent illegal activities. Background verification of all vendor and sponsor staff has been completed, and photo passes have been issued. Mobile technician teams will be stationed at each gate to check mobile phones, and special teams will monitor anti-social elements and black ticketing.

Public safety measures include increasing ambulances from three to five and the deployment of four fire engines. Signage boards have been installed across major routes, including Habsiguda, LB Nagar, Medipally and Ramanthapur to guide spectators. Gates will open three hours prior to match time, and no cloakroom facility will be available.

Traffic DCP V Srinivasulu said that traffic restrictions will be enforced, particularly for heavy vehicles such as lorries, dumpers, trucks, private buses and tractors. Moderate congestion is expected between 12 noon and 11.50 pm on April 5 on stretches from Nagole to Habsiguda via Uppal and Boduppal to Amberpet via Ramanthapur. He advised commuters to avoid these routes.

He added that ground parking for VVIP/VIP and authorised vehicles via Gate 1A. Vehicles without valid passes will not be allowed beyond the Ek Minar and LG Godown check-posts. Roadside parking from Genpact to Uppal Ring Road and towards Ramanthapur is prohibited. Heavy vehicle diversions will be implemented at key junctions, including HMDA Uppal Bhagayath, Nagole Metro Station and Habsiguda crossroads, redirecting traffic via LB Nagar, Nacharam, Cherlapally and Ghatkesar.

Authorities have urged citizens to use public transport such as RTC buses and Metro Rail. Digital ticketing will be introduced from the next match, on April 13. Police appealed for cooperation to ensure a safe and smooth match experience.

GFX

Banned items inside the stadium

Laptops

Banners

Water bottles

Cameras

Cigarettes

Electronic items

Matchboxes and lighters

Sharp metal/plastic objects

Binoculars

Writing pens

Batteries

Helmets

Perfumes

Bags and handbags

Key chains

Flammable substances

Pet animals

Laser pointers

Ear pods

Outside eatables

Parking arrangements

From Uppal X Roads to Habsiguda:

Penguin

TGIALA

From Uppal X Roads to Ramanthapur:

Open place of DSL (opposite NSL building)

Modern Bakery

Cops on ground

Teams from law and order, traffic, security wing, 10 platoons of Special Police/Armed Reserve, 20 mounted police, 10 Vajra vehicle, 120 Special Branch officials, 240 bomb disposal teams, 50 intelligence personnel, 25 special operation teams, 10 from the counter intelligence cell, SHE Teams and anti-woman harassment squads, vendor monitoring teams.