Tight security at Wankhede stadium
An unprecedented three-tier security cover to maintain vigil over
land, air and water has been put in place in the metropolis, turning it
into a fortress, ahead of today's World Cup final between India and Sri
Lanka at the Wankhede stadium here.
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Tournament: Huge success |
| International
Cricket Council President Sharad Pawar yesterday termed the
tournament as a "huge success" and "incident free". "In all
respects the ICC World Cup is a huge success; in terms of
spectators, TV viewership, the quality of cricket played so
far," said Pawar. Pawar said but for the support of all the
authorities of the three host countries - India, Sri Lanka and
Bangladesh - including their cricket boards, the tournament
could not have been such a success. |
India's President Pratibha Patil and President Mahinda Rajapaksa will
watch the grand finale of cricket's biggest extravaganza at the
32,000-capacity stadium.
Apart from Mumbai Police, personnel of National Security Guards,
Maharashtra's elite Force One, Rapid Action Force, State Reserve Police
Force and Quick Response Team are maintaining a strict vigil at the
venue. "Nearly 5,000 security men have been deployed for the mega event
as part of unprecedented security measures, that I have never seen
before in my career.
The security men and staff of stadium and the organisers would be
issued biometric bar coded access cards," Mumbai Police Commissioner
Arup Patnaik said.
There would be a three-layer security checking of the ticket holders,
he said, adding, "It would be good if the spectators reach the stadium
three hours before the match begins. The entry and exit gates may be
closed after 5 PM on the day of the match."
Anti-aircraft guns will be strategically put in place and all air
bases near Mumbai, Indian Navy and Coast Guard have been put on high
alert to thwart any possible air or sea-based attack. The airspace over
and around the stadium has been declared a 'No Flying Zone', officials
said. NDTV |
