The Bhubaneswar–Cuttack Twin City Commissionerate Police conducted a detailed personnel briefing on Thursday at Barabati Stadium ahead of the offline ticket sales for the India vs South Africa T20 match. The counters outside the stadium will open for the general public at 9 am on December 5, prompting authorities to roll out enhanced crowd-management measures.
Officials confirmed that iron barricades arranged in a serpentine pattern have been installed around the ticket counters. The layout aims to prevent overnight queuing, reduce the risk of black-marketing, and ensure smooth, orderly ticket sales. These measures are part of an improved system introduced after overcrowding concerns during the India vs England match held earlier this year.
Ticket Sale Timings and Queue Regulations
Ticket counters for general spectators will operate from 9 am, and fans may begin forming queues from 6 am on the day of the sale. Authorities have strictly prohibited camping or lining up the night before to maintain safety and discipline.
To avoid congestion, entry and exit routes near the Cricket Academy have been separated, ensuring a unidirectional flow of spectators around the counter areas.
Anti-Scalping Measures and Security Deployment
To curb scalping and illegal resale, Commissionerate Police will deploy plain-clothes officers around the stadium and at high-traffic approach roads. The entire ticketing zone will be monitored by CCTV cameras to ensure transparency, expedite response during crowd surges, and help detect unlawful activities.
Enforcement teams will respond immediately to any intelligence on black-marketing or attempts to disrupt queues, officials confirmed.
The Ind vs SA T20 match will take place at Barabati Stadium on December 9. Police urged spectators to purchase tickets only from official offline counters or authorised digital platforms to avoid scams and fraudulent transactions.
