IPL frenzy hits City traffic

IPL frenzy hits City traffic
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The ticket hunters had arrived much early outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the grand venue of the IPL opening ceremony. The huge crowds threw traffic out of gear, with people loitering around the stadium. Their hopes apparently died young...


Eventually, it was a ‘Kolkata Knightmare’ for the Royal Challengers. But before the inaugural IPL league match turned dramatic and the cricketing swords lifted, diehard fans had their task cut out: They yearned for tickets to be part of the action inside, to cheer and to simply enjoy.

Yet, their entry point blues had anxiety writ all over. Their last ditch efforts to secure a ticket on Friday evening went mostly in vain.

The ticket hunters had arrived much early outside the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the grand venue of the IPL opening ceremony. The huge crowds threw traffic out of gear, with people loitering around the stadium. Their hopes apparently died young.

The police had diverted traffic to several roads anticipating the heavy crowd turning up to see the much awaited event. Yet the arrangements did not sustain for long as everywhere around the stadium people were strolling on the road putting brakes on the vehicular movement.

Roads leading to MG Road were choked. In the evening, the Kasturba Road was completely chok-a-block with little space left for vehicles.

Pedestrians were strolling on the road, reducing vehicular speed to a crawl. The police could hardly control them.

But the crowds stayed on even after the match started. Crackers that dazzled the Friday skies had hundreds stand on the roads and look up, oblivious to the long queues of vehicles, particularly on Cubbon road, MG Road and Kasturba Road.

Inside, the men in khakhi had a tough time keeping the excitement under check. There was simply no space to even walk, once the clock struck seven. Tricolours, music and dance performers ruled, as the cricket fever went up.