Bhubaneswar, Nov 12: With the India-South Africa T20I match scheduled for December 9 at the iconic Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi chaired a high-level preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to ensure seamless execution of the event.

Emphasizing Odisha’s reputation for hosting international sporting events, the Chief Minister directed the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and state administration to leave no room for error.

Highlighting cricket’s immense popularity in India, CM Majhi said the eyes of the nation and the world would be on Odisha during the match. He stressed the importance of upholding the state’s prestige by ensuring a well-coordinated and secure event.

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OCA Secretary Sanjay Behera presented a detailed plan covering ticket sales, crowd management, uninterrupted lighting, fire safety, stadium infrastructure, parking, and traffic control. Additional generators and a new software monitoring system have been installed to ensure continuous lighting, with automatic backup in case of power failure.

In light of the recent explosion in Delhi, the Chief Minister instructed police and security agencies to implement foolproof security arrangements. He also emphasized the need for a well-managed green corridor for emergency medical transport and urged officials to ensure efficient crowd control, ticketing, and healthcare facilities.

Each stand of the Barabati Stadium will accommodate spectators based on its designated capacity, and all arrangements will be closely monitored. The meeting was attended by senior officials including Sports Minister Suryabanshi Suraj, Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, DGP Y.B. Khurania, and OCA President Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, among others.