India to upgrade Stadium Security

India has embarked on a major upgrading of security facilities at its international stadiums in the wake of the Mumbai terrorist attacks.

According to UK newspaper, The Guardian, emergency levels of security have been guaranteed for England's return to India for Tests in Chennai and Mohali. However, there is no guarantee that the Indian government will be so amenable to special measures (such as the provision of special security forces) in the future.

Indian cricket has therefore concluded that permanent security measures must be introduced for all major competitions to allay players' fears about their safety, guard against mass withdrawals and to protect the country's status as cricket's thriving economic powerhouse.

The driving force behind the security measures is Lalit Modi, Vice-President of the Board of Control for Cricket in India and Commissioner of the Indian Premier League, who has written to representatives of the eight grounds that stage IPL Twenty20 cricket insisting upon new security measures.

These measures include the installation of permanent CCTV cameras at every stadium and the provision of turnstiles (rather than just manned gates) at entry and exit points to allow a more controlled check on spectator entry. Security arrangements at the 8 IPL grounds will be managed by a central agency answerable to the IPL and funding will be provided by the Indian board. Modi also wants disaster management teams to be appointed to devise definite plans in the event of a terrorist strike at a cricket stadium.