A team from the National Security Guard (NSG), a special forces unit, will be part of the comprehensive security arrangements for the Coldplay concert at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a senior police official confirmed on Wednesday. The British rock band is set to perform at the venue on January 25 and 26 as part of its India tour.
The stadium, located in the Motera area, is the world’s largest cricket stadium, with a capacity of over 1 lakh spectators. Joint Commissioner of Police Neeraj Badgujar said that 3,825 police personnel would be deployed in and around the stadium to ensure security and maintain law and order.
“With over 1 lakh people expected to move through the venue each day, 3,825 police personnel will be deployed to ensure security and uphold law and order. The deployment will include 14 deputy commissioners of police, 25 assistant commissioners of police, 63 police inspectors, 142 sub-inspectors, and more than 3,500 constables,” Badgujar said during a press briefing at the city police commissioner’s office in Shahibaug.
The security apparatus will also involve teams from the Ahmedabad crime branch and the Special Operations Group (SOG), who will monitor strategic locations, including Metro stations expected to be used by concertgoers.
“A team of NSG along with three quick response teams (QRT), one team of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and 10 teams of the bomb detection and disposal squad will be stationed at critical locations, including the hotel where the band’s crew will stay. Medical and paramedical teams will also remain on standby,” the official added.
A disaster management plan and an emergency evacuation plan have been formulated in coordination with the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), according to Badgujar.
Police will conduct a drill based on the plan ahead of the event.
The concert, scheduled to start at 5.30 pm and conclude at 10 pm on both days, will see the stadium gates open for spectators at 2 pm, Badgujar noted.
Dignitaries and VVIPs from India and around the world are expected to attend the event, further necessitating heightened security measures.
Also Read: Gujarat: Man Saves Mother’s Grave from AMC Demolition Plan