PANAJI: "The Goa Cricket Association (GCA) is on track for a successful organisation of the India-Australia one-day international at Nehru stadium, Fatorda on October 24 and that all arrangements, importantly the core-factors, pitch and ground is nearing completion," stated the GCA secretary, Mr Prasad Phaterpekar while addressing the media in a city hotel on Saturday.
Mr Phaterpekar stressed that the organisation of the high-profile ODI will be transparent and highly professional based on all the criteria set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and that the entire GCA force with all the vital support from the government, SAG, state police force, security agencies and various other personnel/organisations were all working in tandem and tirelessly to ensure that the one-dayer is a grand success.
"The GCA has also conducted meetings to review security arrangements for the ODI and has been interacting with various government officials from CM to police officers to ensure that top level arrangements are in place," Mr Phaterpekar added. He maintained that catering, media arrangements, transport, parking were also being looked into so that no one is inconvenienced and that the entire exercise is a grand success.
The GCA secretary also informed that Prerana International, a Delhi-based firm had bagged the in-stadia rights for advertising at ` 1.26 crore.
Former GCA secretary and current vice-president, Mr Chetan Dessai while briefing the media informed that "we are all geared up for a successful organisation of the ODI and that all security arrangements are being put in place through various meetings to ensure a smooth conduct."
Mr Dessai divulged that this time care would be taken that food items on sale inside the stadium are not "over-priced" as was the case found out during previous one-dayers in Goa, and that after discussion with various GCA clubs, food items this time would be sold at GCA-approved rate and care would be taken not to over-price them.
Mr Vinod Phadke, treasurer, who is handling matters related to ticketing aspects of the ODI, disclosed that sale of ticket both on-line and across the counter will be managed by Federal Bank in the state. "This time the GCA has ensured that no volunteers inside the stadium shall occupy the chairs of pass/ticket-holders and therefore this time the total in-stadia capacity including the volunteers for the match has been fixed at 25,815. This is to ensure that everyone who buys a ticket or holds a pass shall occupy a chair," Mr Phadke pointed out.
The GCA, Mr Phadke informed, has decided to print tickets in three denominations of ` 500, ` 1,500 and ` 2,500 and that on-line sales will commence from October 1 and continue till 15th; and will be restricted only to the 1500 and 2500 denominations while across the counter sale at the Federal Bank shall commence from 15th October for the ` 500 and other denominations that are left.
Mr Phadke added that with the stadium capacity being 25,815, the total tickets that would be printed would be 9,180 which would comprise: 1000 of ` 2500 for South Upper section; 180 of `500 for West tier; 3000 of ` 1500 for North stand and 5000 of ` 500 for East stand. That apart, the GCA will print 14,320 complimentary passes of which 1915 will be passes for officials with batches, and separate 200 press passes will also be printed. Since the stadium capacity does not include the press photographers (who shall be stationed on the ground) and the groundsmen, there will be another 200 passes that will be printed to accommodate them.
The GCA will also sell tickets to handicaps and senior citizens (for west stand only) of ` 500 denomination only based on producing their ID cards both while purchasing at the bank and also while entering the stadium, Mr Phadke informed.
Besides, the tickets, which will be printed in Pune, will be equipped with a high ultra-scan RFID chip, a security feature of the ticket/passes as it will produce a beep when scanned at various entry gates in the stadium on the day of the match, when spectators make entry. The scanning will also enable the authorities to maintain a count of spectators who have entered the ground.
Besides, the ticket will be laminated and bear a special invisible ink that will glow under UV lamp. Tickets will be light or dark coloured depending on upper or lower tier seating arrangement.
Mr Phadke added that the back side of the ticket space has been bought by the Federal Bank for ` 2.5 lakh as advertising space. There will be a map printed at the back of the ticket and will show the bearer the exact direction on how to make way to his seating area. Meanwhile, Mr Phaterpekar informed that the GCA will place paid-ads in various news papers shortly, divulging the traffic plans and parking lots at the venue and that 750 Goa Police personnel, in addition to private security guards, will be deployed for securing the venue on match-day as water-tight security arrangement will be in place.
That apart, the India-Aus ODI has been insured by GCA for ` 3 crore, which covers liability of spectators (1cr), expenses (1cr) and stadium damages (1cr).
Taj Exotica Benaulim will host both the visiting teams and the visiting Aussies are scheduled to arrive on October 21 by Chartered flight while the exact details of Indian team’s arrival is not yet known, Mr Phaterpekar summed up.
