Cricket / Odisha Govt Orders Feasibility Study for Barabati Stadium Upgrade
·3 months ago·2 min read
Key Points
- Odisha Govt orders feasibility study for major upgradation of Barabati Stadium.
- Massive crowds gathered for offline ticket sales ahead of the India–South Africa T20I.
- Police intensified security and crowd-management measures as fan turnout surged.
Cuttack, Dec 5: The iconic Barabati Stadium may soon undergo a major upgradation, with the Odisha Government ordering a feasibility study to assess the scope and requirements for modernising the historic venue.
Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, in a written reply to Barabati–Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous in the Assembly on Friday, said the feasibility assessment will examine infrastructure needs, financial implications and long-term suitability for hosting national and international sporting events. A final decision will be taken after the study’s findings are submitted.
Meanwhile, heavy crowding was witnessed outside the stadium’s ticket counters on Friday morning as thousands of cricket fans queued up to purchase tickets for the India–South Africa T20I scheduled on December 9. Supporters from across Odisha—and even from neighbouring states -- arrived before dawn, forming long lines that stretched beyond the barricaded areas.
Commissionerate Police officials said they repeatedly urged spectators from 6am onwards to enter only through the designated pathways created for crowd management. However, many fans were reluctant to follow the regulated lanes, leading to significant congestion outside the counters. Additional platoons were mobilised to streamline the queue system and prevent overcrowding at the entry points.
The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has already announced detailed offline and online ticketing arrangements, with only around 2,000 tickets sold online through Zomato for select galleries and enclosures. The rest are being sold at the box office counters starting December 5.
Also Read: BSE Odisha Announces 2026 HSC Exam Dates, Details Inside
Security arrangements around the stadium have also been intensified ahead of the players’ arrival on December 7. With thousands expected to attend the match, authorities have stepped up coordination between the police, OCA and district administration to ensure smooth movement, crowd control and an incident-free event.
Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, in a written reply to Barabati–Cuttack MLA Sofia Firdous in the Assembly on Friday, said the feasibility assessment will examine infrastructure needs, financial implications and long-term suitability for hosting national and international sporting events. A final decision will be taken after the study’s findings are submitted.
Meanwhile, heavy crowding was witnessed outside the stadium’s ticket counters on Friday morning as thousands of cricket fans queued up to purchase tickets for the India–South Africa T20I scheduled on December 9. Supporters from across Odisha—and even from neighbouring states -- arrived before dawn, forming long lines that stretched beyond the barricaded areas.
Commissionerate Police officials said they repeatedly urged spectators from 6am onwards to enter only through the designated pathways created for crowd management. However, many fans were reluctant to follow the regulated lanes, leading to significant congestion outside the counters. Additional platoons were mobilised to streamline the queue system and prevent overcrowding at the entry points.
The Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) has already announced detailed offline and online ticketing arrangements, with only around 2,000 tickets sold online through Zomato for select galleries and enclosures. The rest are being sold at the box office counters starting December 5.
Also Read: BSE Odisha Announces 2026 HSC Exam Dates, Details Inside
Security arrangements around the stadium have also been intensified ahead of the players’ arrival on December 7. With thousands expected to attend the match, authorities have stepped up coordination between the police, OCA and district administration to ensure smooth movement, crowd control and an incident-free event.
📱 Get Argus News App
✨📰 60 Word News🎬 Argus Podcast📺 Live TV and Breaking News🔔 Free Notification Alerts
Download Free:
Related Topics
Explore more stories