All arrangements are in place to make Kerala’s first-ever T20 international match on November 7 a memorable event, Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran has said.
The Minister on Saturday visited The Sports Hub Trivandrum, the venue of the match between India and New Zealand, to review the last-minute arrangements under way at the stadium complex at Karyavattom.
Mr. Surendran, who is also the local MLA, said that the city was all set to host yet another international match, around three decades after the Ravi Shastri-led Indian side had taken on West Indies that was captained by the legendary Vivian Richards, at the University Stadium on January 25, 1988.
Abuzz with excitement
“Thiruvananthapuram is abuzz with excitement so much so that the tickets for the match were sold out around two weeks before the event. We are optimistic that the successful conduct of the match will pave way for the city hosting more international events in the near future,” he said.
According to him, all efforts were being made to ensure the security of the international players, VIPs, and the spectators numbering over 40,000.
Adequate number of hi-tech CCTV cameras had been installed at various points on the premises to ensure constant surveillance.
Medical aid
Besides installing sufficient firefighting systems, teams of the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services will be deployed to handle exigencies, along with emergency response teams. An emergency exit plan has also be prepared. A district medical team and the Ananthapuri Hospitals will set-up first aid kiosks at various parts of the stadium to provide medical treatment. Adequate number of ambulances will also be ensured.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will operate special services on the match day. Services will be operated to the Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, Central bus terminal at Thampanoor, and other places after the conclusion of the match.
Impetus to tourism
Mr. Surendran said that the international match was expected to provide an impetus for the State’s development in the long run from a tourism perspective. Several hotels in the city had been fully booked well in advance for the match day, he said.