Kochi: In the wake of reports of unruly behaviour from spectators during previous matches, the Kochi Police has tightened security at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium for final of the ISL match between Kerala Blasters and Atletico de Kolkata. As many as 1,400 police personnel will be deployed at the stadium and its premises alone this time, an increase of nearly 400 policemen compared to previous matches, on Sunday and additional CCTV cameras have been fitted inside the stadium, stadium circle and the near-by link roads.
"Each nook and corner of the stadium will be monitored during the match hours. With mild violence being reported in some of the earlier matches, we've substantially increased the number of CCTV cameras so that those creating mischief can be easily identified and booked," said city police commissioner M.P. Dinesh. Bottled water, food packets, sticks and Nashik dhol (drums) would not be permitted inside the stadium. The entry for spectators inside the stadium will start at 3 pm and the same will be closed at sharp 6 pm. No one without valid tickets will be allowed to enter the stadium circle and those found roaming around will be forcefully removed after 6 pm, he said. There will be no sale of tickets through box offices in the stadium on Sunday.
Necessary facilities have been set up at Ambedkar stadium near the KSRTC bus stand to those who bought tickets online and wanted to confirm the same. Those vehicles found halted at the 'No Parking' zones will be removed using recovery vans. Also no roadside vendors will be allowed to operate out of stadium Ring Road. The railways, meanwhile, has provided a special stoppage for the Thiruvananthapuram-Guruvayur Express at 9.45 pm in Ernakulam Town station on Sunday in vew of the the ISL final.
