FIFA U-17 World Cup 2017: Salt Lake Stadium can be evacuated in just 8 minutes, claims Kolkata Police

Kolkata: The 66,000-capacity Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan, which is slated to host 10 U-17 football World Cup matches, including the final on 28 October, can be evacuated in only eight minutes in case of any emergency, the police said in Kolkata on Wednesday. “We have prepared a detailed evacuation plan. The entire stadium, even if full to the brim, can be evacuated safely and smoothly in only eight minutes in emergency situations,” Bidhannagar Police commissioner Gyanwant Singh said in the West Bengal capital. [caption id=“attachment_4111519” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Vivekananda Yuva Bharati Krirangan. Image credit: Twitter/Indianfootball[/caption] Gyanwant said though there was no threat perception, the police have laid down a stringent security plan at the venue — also called the Salt Lake Stadium — “in view of the global situation”. “We don’t want to take any risk in view of the global situation. So we have prepared for all crisis situations. The emergency evacuation plan we have formulated will ensure there is no stampede,” he said. The top police officer said spectators would not be allowed to carry anything apart from their mobile phones, while women could additionally carry a purse, but after it is checked. “Except the mobile phones, and the purses in case of women, nothing else will be allowed. Water bottles, newspapers, bags, nothing will be allowed. We won’t allow anything that can be used as missile,” he said. He said the police would act tough in case any racial comment or abuse is hurled by the spectators in the stadium. “The stewards deployed in the blocks would initially try to dissuade the offenders. But if their pleas fail, then the police will step in and act tough,” he said. With several thousand foreigners slated to fly into the city for the matches, especially the final, the police have made arrangements at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, as well as various shopping malls, which they are likely to frequent, to help them. If they face any problems, we are there". Apart from hosting the 10 matches, Kolkata has been designated as the FIFA headquarters for the tournament, with over 60 officials of the world’s highest soccer body putting up at Hyatt Regency. The city would also function as the referee hub. While 40 referees from across the globe would be stationed in Kolkata, the city will also accommodate 80 trainee referees. A total of 3,000 police personnel — including 35 officers of superintendent of police and additional superintendent of police rank, and 60 lower-ranked officers — would be on duty during the match days. Gyanwant said 110 door-frame metal detectors would be installed as checking points, with 260 closed-circuit-televisions positioned at every nook and corner of the stadium to keep vigil. The doors of the stadium would be opened two hours prior to the start of the day’s first match. “All spectators will be frisked. We have calculated that we will need about two hours to frisk 66 thousand spectators,” he said. All tickets would also be scanned. “Our emphasis will be on providing good service so that people can easily enter and leave and don’t feel harassed,” he said. Arrangements have been made for parking 2,600 cars.