Stage set for FIH Men's Hockey World Cup opening ceremony, Millennium City under tight security blanket

A thick security blanket has been thrown around Millennium City Cuttack in view of the star-studded inaugural ceremony of the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup 2023 at the iconic Barabati Stadium today.  

As many as 50 platoons of police force will be deployed in and around the stadium while 200 officers will be mobilised to ensure security. Outside foods, water bottles and throwable items will not be allowed inside the stadium. 

In view of a large congregation of people, parking facilities have been set up at 11 places near the stadium.     

“Around 40,000 crowd will congregate at the stadium for the hockey world cup ceremony. Elaborate arrangements have been made for entry of people into the stadium through various gates, their exit and security inside the stadium. We have also made arrangement for the crowd and vehicular traffic management at the outer periphery of the stadium where audiences will arrive from various places,” Cuttack Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Pinak Mishra said.  

“Mainly, there are two routes to come to the stadium. Those coming from Sikharpur-Gandarpur will have to take Ring Road via Jobra. There will be a blocking point in front of the DCP office. From there, they will be diverted towards lower Bali Yatra Ground where parking facilities have been set up. People can walk down to the stadium from the parking lots,” he added. 

Mishra further said, those coming from the Trisulia side will be blocked near the Cantonment police station and parking facilities have been made available there. They can walk down to the stadium from there.

The Hockey World Cup which is slated to begin on January 13 will continue till January 29, 2023 and will be played at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar and Birsa Munda Stadium in Rourkela.

Reported by Debasish Mohanty, OTV