India-SA T20I at Barabati Stadium: CRUT announces special ‘Ama Bus’ services from Bhubaneswar

Ahead of the highly anticipated India vs South Africa T20 International at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, the Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT) has announced dedicated ‘Ama Bus’ services to facilitate smooth travel for spectators on match day, December 9.

The initiative comes as authorities anticipate a surge in fans heading to the stadium for the evening encounter, scheduled to begin at 7 pm.

Special Match-Day Bus Corridors

CRUT announced that two dedicated routes have been introduced to connect key hubs in Bhubaneswar directly to Barabati Stadium. Services will operate every 20 minutes from 3:30 pm onwards.

Route 1: Baramunda BSABT to Barabati Stadium, passing via Jaydev Vihar Square, KIIT Square, Nandankanan, and Judicial Academy, terminating at Sati Chaura Square near the stadium.

Route 2: Bhubaneswar Railway Station to Barabati Stadium via Vani Vihar Square, Rasulgarh Square, Nakhara Square, and Link Road, continuing through CNBT and Judicial Academy.

Both routes are priced at a flat Non-AC fare of Rs 40 for a one-way trip.

Dedicated Shuttle for Cuttack Arrivals

For spectators arriving by train, a separate AC shuttle service will operate between Cuttack Railway Station and the stadium from 4:00 pm. This service, looping through Sati Chaura Square, Judicial Academy, CNBT, and OMP Square, will charge Rs 20 per passenger.

Regular Bus Network Operational

CRUT has confirmed that regular Mo Bus routes will continue operations alongside the special services. Notable routes include:

• Route 17: Biju Patnaik International Airport to Barabati Stadium.
• Route 16: Sri Sri University to Bhubaneswar Railway Station via National Highway.
• Routes 10 & 15: Judicial Square, Cuttack to MANU University and Utkal Hospital, respectively.
• Route 81: Intra-Cuttack connection from the stadium to Salepur via Cuttack Railway Station.

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Match-Day Security and Facilities

Meanwhile, Barabati Stadium has been equipped with enhanced lighting and visual arrangements to elevate the spectator experience. Security deployment includes around 50 platoons and over 300 officers, while traffic management plans provide parking across six designated locations.

The Odisha Cricket Association has coordinated with state authorities to ensure seamless conduct and crowd management for the T20 clash, marking the start of the five-match series between India and South Africa.