How cricket found its way back to Chinnaswamy

After months of uncertainty following the tragic stampede incident that led to matches being moved out of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, the venue has finally received a conditional green signal from the Karnataka government to resume hosting high-profile matches. The episode raised serious questions around crowd safety and event preparedness, prompting a temporary halt to cricket at one of the country's busiest and most iconic venues. What followed was a high-level review involving multiple arms of the state machinery and the constitution of the Justice John Michael Cunha Committee, whose recommendations became central to any attempt to restore cricket at the stadium.

With a newly elected panel now at the helm of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, the focus has shifted to execution. The revival process has involved close engagement with the state government, law enforcement agencies, civic authorities and cricket's national administrators, alongside a detailed reassessment of stadium infrastructure and matchday operations. Measures spanning gate management, holding areas, medical preparedness, fire safety and crowd movement have been prioritised, with an emphasis on closing structural gaps identified during the review process.

In a chat with Cricbuzz, Sujith Somasunder, vice-president of the Karnataka State Cricket Association, lays out the framework shaped in consultation with the government, law enforcement agencies and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), and details the safety and infrastructure measures now being put in place as cricket prepares to return to Bengaluru under a more stringent regulatory framework. Excerpts:

The first step was to meet the key decision makers. We met the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister and subsequently also the Home Minister, to understand their concerns and expectations and to request them to help resolve the issue. They were actually very receptive, considering this was the first real attempt made by the KSCA to get the matter resolved. They were keen to see a way forward, as this stadium belongs to the state as much as it does to the association. We held talks with the Home Minister who was instrumental in facilitating the process and guided us to the BBMP Commissioner, Police Commissioner, and they were very supportive in the matter, in collaboration with the heads of various government departments - fire services, BWSSB (water and sewage), BESCOM (power), BBMP (municipal corporation).

We examined the Cunha Committee's recommendations one by one and began acting on them. The required engineers were appointed and work commenced. In parallel, we had to engage with the BCCI, because they needed formal government approval to consider Chinnaswamy as an international venue again. Once that support came through, the BCCI was more than happy to resume matches here. We also kept RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) informed, since Chinnaswamy is their home ground and the IPL was the next major event on the calendar.

The emphasis is on educating spectators - where to come from, which gates to use, what is permitted, and what is not. We will encourage the use of public transport, including the Metro and buses, because it is simply not feasible to provide parking for a 35,000-capacity crowd. This will be a coordinated effort with public transport authorities.

Vinay Mruthyunjaya, our official press spokesperson, was at the forefront. Given his professional background, he has strong connections with policymakers. Santosh Menon (secretary), who has been part of the association for many years, also played a key role, given his experience and relationships. I was involved as well.

That episode is important to understand in the right context. The event itself was not the responsibility or accountability of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. The celebration was organised following RCB's title win, and the decision to hold such an event lay with RCB. KSCA's role is that of a venue provider; it is essentially a tenant-owner relationship.

That said, KSCA is responsible for ensuring that the venue meets required safety and security protocols. That is where our accountability lies. So if we had to examine anything, it was whether there were gaps in coordination relating to safety and security infrastructure.

The decision to hold a non-ticketed public event of that scale was not ours. From what I understand, it was an ad hoc decision, with no ticketing and limited clarity on crowd management - whether it was first come, first served, or free entry. Those decisions were not taken by KSCA, and we had limited control over them.

However, what we can take responsibility for is preparedness. If such a situation arises again, how do we ensure the infrastructure and systems are capable of managing it? That is where our focus is now.

Our vision is to turn the stadium into a smart stadium. Today, AI-enabled cameras and systems can help issue alerts, direct crowds, manage gates and regulate entry and exit points more effectively. That is where we accept responsibility and accountability, and that is the direction we are planning to move in.

Absolutely, and you are right that the franchisees will take care of ticketing for the IPL. However, our focus is not limited to the IPL. That is just one event. Our primary focus is on international matches, which KSCA has been hosting for over 50 years.

Fortunately, we have never had an untoward incident of this magnitude in the past. That said, unfortunate incidents are also opportunities to learn. As I mentioned earlier, once we make the stadium a smart stadium, using cameras, artificial intelligence and relevant software systems, and once we implement the Cunha Committee's recommendations on gate numbers, gate locations, gate widths, holding areas, and crowd capacity per gate and per stand, it will significantly enhance crowd management.

When you have this kind of intelligence and data, it helps not only administrators but also the public. Through social media, we can proactively inform fans well in advance about where to enter, which gate to use, which stand they are seated in, and how the entire process will work. Once all these gate-management and crowd-management systems are in place, we can streamline the entire process much more effectively.

For fire safety, we need to provide a specified quantity of water, for which we are putting in place a dedicated tank or reservoir. Fire engines also need unobstructed access to different parts of the stadium.

As I mentioned earlier, education is key. We need to clearly communicate what measures are in place. AI-enabled cameras will be monitored by trained and competent personnel who can guide crowds effectively. Public announcement systems are also an important component, allowing clear instructions to be communicated to spectators in real time.

We will have multiple announcement stations across the stadium to guide fans during events. Beyond that, we can also use social media proactively by sharing educational videos - for example, explaining what to do in the event of a critical situation such as a stampede, and how individuals can protect themselves.

Once we have walked the public through the concept of a smart stadium and its safety measures, we also plan to start with ticketed events that involve smaller crowds, as recommended. This phased approach will help build confidence among fans, authorities and stakeholders before gradually increasing attendance.

That is a very novel thought, and why not? If a large responsibility like crowd management can be shared with competent communities or agencies, it is certainly worth exploring. Good leadership and governance are also about responsible delegation.

That said, at this stage, it would be wise for us to take full ownership, responsibility and accountability for crowd management. Once we are independently capable and confident, we can then move towards interdependence and collaboration with other agencies or fan groups. That is a higher step, and it is something we can certainly explore in the future.

I may not be the right person to speak about exact figures, since I am not handling the financial side. What I can say is that these measures have to be implemented at any cost. The exact estimates are not something I am privy to, but ensuring safety and compliance is non-negotiable.

Absolutely. That is a very integral part of enhancing fan engagement and experience. It is not just a "good-to-have"; it is a must. Basic hygiene cannot be compromised. Facilities like toilets, seating and general cleanliness fall under hygiene factors, and they are mandatory.

Yes, that is another important aspect of organising events of this scale. If we want to be the best at every level of hosting international matches, we need to partner with vendors and service providers who buy into our vision and standards.

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