KARNATAKA CABINET has granted permission to the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to host the Indian Premier League (IPL) at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. The decision clears the way for defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to stage their home fixtures at the venue.
Announcing the decision on X, Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said, “In the interest of the sport and its fans, the Cabinet today has taken an important decision to permit the conduct of IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium, while keeping public safety paramount.”
He added that the recommendations of the Justice John Michael D’Cunha report would be implemented, with strict adherence to norms on ticketing, crowd regulation, and stadium access.
Last year, during RCB’s victory celebrations, 11 people died in a stampede outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, while more than 30 others were injured, triggering nationwide outrage. No matches have been staged at the venue since the incident.
To investigate the tragedy and prevent similar occurrences, the state government constituted a committee headed by retired High Court judge Justice John Michael D’Cunha. The panel subsequently submitted a series of recommendations to strengthen crowd management and safety measures at the stadium.
Meanwhile, on 16 January, RCB proposed installing 300-350 AI-enabled cameras at the venue. The system is intended to help the KSCA and law enforcement agencies manage crowd movement, enforce orderly queuing, monitor unauthorised access through real-time tracking of entries and exits, and enhance overall fan safety. RCB has committed to bearing the one-time installation cost.
