Bhubaneswar, November 12: Odisha Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi today chaired a preparatory meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan to review arrangements for the international T-20 cricket match between India and South Africa scheduled to be held at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, on December 9th.
Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, President of the Odisha Cricket Association, welcomed the popular Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi by presenting him with a bouquet.
Acknowledging Odisha’s reputation for successfully hosting international sports, the Chief Minister instructed senior officers of the Odisha Cricket Association (OCA) and the State Administration to ensure all arrangements are executed flawlessly and in a well-regulated manner, stating that the match will be watched by the entire country and the world. He emphasized that protecting the dignity of Odisha through perfect organization is paramount.
Among those present in the meeting were Chief Minister’s Advisor Shri Prakash Mishra, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Shri Suryabansi Suraj, Angul MLA and OCA Member Shri Pratap Chandra Pradhan, Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Shri Satyabrata Sahu, Director General of Police Shri Y.B. Khurania, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Shri Saswat Mishra and PS to CM Shri Manoj Sahoo and other senior officers were present.
Odisha Cricket Association President Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, OCA Secretary Shri Sanjay Behera, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of various departments, Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner, and Cuttack District Collector.
OCA President Shri Pankaj Lochan Mohanty briefed the attendees on the match and requested the kind support of the Odisha Government for its grand success.
OCA Secretary Shri Sanjay Behera presented a detailed report on preparations, which covered various aspects including ticket sales, spectator facilities, uninterrupted lighting systems, stadium infrastructure, fire safety, parking, and traffic management.
In the context of the recent blast in Delhi, the Chief Minister stressed the need for a fool-proof security arrangement by the police administration for the safety of people during the international event, urging the police to be more vigilant. He also highlighted the importance of a well-organized green corridor for transporting sick or vulnerable people and suggested proper monitoring and management of all activities, including crowd control, ticket distribution, and emergency medical services.
The meeting confirmed that seating arrangements would strictly adhere to the designated capacity of each stand. Furthermore, additional gensets have been procured and new monitoring software installed to ensure the lighting system remains uninterrupted, with backup gensets ready for immediate activation in case of any failure.