Bengaluru, Feb 13 (NationPress) In light of the government's recent approval for IPL and international matches at the renowned Chinnaswamy Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru, Karnataka's Home Minister, G. Parameshwara, emphasized that ensuring safety is the top priority and that security protocols will be enhanced by four times.

The Karnataka government granted conditional permission on Thursday to resume cricket matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, months after the venue was restricted from hosting events due to the tragic stampede that occurred on June 4, 2025, during the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) inaugural IPL title celebrations, resulting in the loss of 11 lives.

During a press conference in Bengaluru on Friday, Parameshwara addressed inquiries regarding the directives issued to stadium officials, stating, “Regarding police security, we will ensure that fourfold measures are implemented. This will exceed the necessary requirements. Our main goal is to communicate to the authorities the importance of following the recommendations made by the Justice D’Cunha Committee. We will not demand any new protocols. Safety is of the highest importance.”

“With this in mind, we will provide instructions to stadium officials. Over the past 50 years, there hasn’t been any significant incident during cricket matches. The unfortunate event was during the celebrations. Therefore, we will assess whether such celebrations should be permitted in the future,” he added.

Parameshwara further explained, “We have agreed in principle to grant permission. We previously stated that the suggestions from the retired Justice John Michael D’Cunha Commission must be enacted. These recommendations are categorized into three sections—immediate actions, time-sensitive measures to be completed before matches, and infrastructure-related issues requiring more time.”

“In this regard, we have already instructed that initiatives begin before matches are held. I have established a committee chaired by the Chairman of the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), including the Bengaluru Police Commissioner and officials from relevant departments such as Fire, Health, and PWD. They will ensure that IPL matches are organized smoothly,” he noted.

Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated, “In the interests of our youth and the sport of cricket, the government has decided to allow matches at the Chinnaswamy Stadium from now on.”

He clarified that the permission comes with stringent conditions, including ticket sales limited to the approved seating capacity, larger gates to manage crowd flow, and adherence to safety protocols based on the Justice D’Cunha Commission’s recommendations, which include the provision of ambulances.

“This is excellent news for cricket enthusiasts. I apologize for any inconvenience and disappointment experienced in recent days. We have lost a prestigious tournament. Let’s remain vigilant moving forward,” Shivakumar stated.

Earlier in the day, the state government convened a high-level meeting with representatives from the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), and senior officials to discuss the possibility of hosting the IPL inaugural match at the stadium.