Security arrangements, alternative routes planned for PSL 2019

13,113 officials will be deployed, five parking spaces reserved

KARACHI: The Karachi administration and the traffic police issued the traffic plan on Thursday for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2019 matches scheduled to begin from March 9.

While University Road will remain open during the matches, only people who reside in the surroundings of the National Stadium will be allowed to go to their homes, that too after showing their CNICs.

Mahar said that alternative routes have been decided for the smooth flow of traffic. No vehicles will be allowed on roads leading to the National Stadium from Karsaz and Millennium Mall, Dalmia Road. The Sir Shah Muhammad Suleman Road from Hassan Square and the road from New Town Police Station leading to the National Stadium will also be closed for general traffic. However, ambulances and attendants of patients will be able to visit the Liaquat National Hospital and Aga Khan University Hospital through the New Town Police Station route.



Commuters travelling from Airport to Gulistan-e-Jauhar will take the route from Drigh Road to Millennium Mall and then to Nipa from Rashid Minhas Road. Both tracks of the University Road from Jail Chowrangi to Rashid Minhas and Sharae Faisal will remain open for traffic and general public. The traffic coming from Liaquatabad and Ghareebabad to Hassan Square will be diverted towards Azizabad. The traffic coming towards the University Road from Peoples Chowrangi would be restricted.

Roads at the backside of the National Stadium will also be closed for commuters.



Police deployment

The Sindh Inspector-General (IG) of Police Dr Syed Kaleem Imam has ordered the deployment of as many as 13,113 police officials and personnel, including 700 female officers, to ensure the security during PSL matches.

According to the IG, 7,720 police officials from district East, 2,260 from district South, 565 from the Special Security Unit (SSU), 1,780 traffic officials, 788 from the Special Branch will be deployed.

Meanwhile, the Sindh health department has put major hospitals of Karachi on high alert from March 7 to March 17, to tackle any kind of medical emergency during the tournament matches.

Parking spaces

Special arrangements have been made for people who may visit the National Stadium to watch the matches. The spectators must bring their CNICs and tickets to enter the stadium.

The spectators would be taken to the stadium through a shuttle bus service after they have parked their vehicles at the five designated parking spaces. Three out of the five reserved spaces are on the University Road, including Hakeem Saeed Ground, Sunday Market Ground and Federal Urdu University Ground. The spectators coming from District Central, District West, Sohrab Goth, Safoora and other surrounding areas will be able to park their vehicles at these parking areas and reach the stadium through the shuttle.

The fourth parking space has been provided at Expo Centre. The spectators visiting the National Stadium from District South and District East will park their vehicles at the Expo Centre ground near Gate no. 2. They will take a u-turn from Baitul Mukarram Masjid. They will be then taken to the stadium through the shuttle. The fifth parking area has been reserved at the Ghareeb Nawaz Ground on Dalmia Road. The spectators coming from District Malir and Korangi will park their vehicles at this ground.

As much as 2,000 officials will be deployed to manage the traffic including seven SSPs and 20 DSPs. Traffic DIG appealed to the public that they should avoid parking their vehicles on footpaths and roads.



Combing operation

A combing operation was conducted in different parts of the city on Tuesday night as part of the PSL security plan. The documents of potential suspects were checked during the operation.

According to sources, the search operation was carried out by the police on the orders of Sindh IG. Bin Qasim Police carried out house to house search operations under strict security arrangements and several suspects were taken into custody.

They were released after checking their details and documents. While the Police and Rangers officials conducted combing operations in North Nazimabad Block A, D and Q, where the houses of bachelors and hostels were searched and documents of suspected people were checked. Police said that no arrests had been made during the operation.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2019.