Dharamsala, May 10
Dharamsala is gearing up for its second IPL season starting next week. This time, three matches would be organised here starting from May 15.
Kings XI Punjab will take on Delhi Daredevils on May 15. The next match will be played between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 17 and the last between Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers on May 21.
The matches are expected to bring in a huge tourist rush to Dharamsala. Already no rooms are available in the city from next week onwards. All hotels are showing full occupancy. Sources say most of the hotels in lower Dharamsala have been booked in advance by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket association (HPCA). In upper areas like Mcleodganj and Bhagsunag, hotels have either been booked by tourists or hoteliers are holding rooms to sell them at a premium during the IPL matches.
Besides, restaurants are also churning up packages for the IPL season. Most restaurants are planning buffets to accommodate the increased inflow of customers. Some restaurants have installed big screens to show the matches live.
About 30,000 people are likely to flood the area in the coming days, which is more than half of the population of Dharamsala and its surrounding areas. Such a huge rush is expected as about 20,000 tickets have been sold by the organisers for each match.
Most of the low-end tickets have been sold and the sources say a few high-end tickets are available.
While the IPL season brings big business to a small hill station like Dharamsala, it also brings to the fore the weaknesses of the area so far as handling huge tourist inflow.
Poor infrastructure a dampner
Narrow roads and lack of parking space are the main problems. As the hill station witnesses frequent traffic jams even in ordinary days, the heavy tourist rush is likely to choke the main roads, especially in the Mcleodganj and Bhagsunag areas.
Nevertheless, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, headed by the Hamirpur MP and son of Chief Minister, Anurag Thakur, is taking steps to avoid the follies committed during the last IPL season when a large numbers of ticket-holders failed to enter the stadium.
HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma said this year, arrangements have been made that only people having tickets reach the venue. This would prevent chaos near the gates of the stadium and help genuine spectators enter with ease. The police has also been directed not to allow people gather near the venue.
Meanwhile, the BJP that claims the credit for developing Dharamsala as a sports town, is already claiming the credit for bringing IPL matches to this small town. Local Minister Kishan Kapoor has claimed that the matches would bring Dharamsala on the international tourist match for reasons other than the Dalai Lama.
Tight security in place
Meanwhile, the Police Department has pulled up its socks ahead of the matches. Preparations are in full swing as the department does not want to take any chance. The police has prepared a list of star cricketers, including world cup heroes like Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and others.
“Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the players and dignitaries who are likely to come for the matches. Tight security has also been ensured around the stadium. Proper frisking of the visitors would be done,” said Daljeet Thakur, SP.
More than 1,000 police personnel would be deployed for the security and a sufficient number of traffic police would be seen in the town during the matches, he said. The traffic police has already started imposing a fine on vehicles with tinted or dark glasses. Traffic officials are also warning people to remove dark film on the windows of their vehicles before the matches.
“We are doing our best to ensure efforts for the smooth flow of traffic. Some routes would be turned into one-way during the matches, but the main roads would not be blocked so as to avoid inconvenience to the public,” said the SP. Foolproof security would be provided to the players throughout their stay, right from their hotel rooms to the stadium.
There are chances of world cup players getting mobbed, therefore tight security would be in place for them.
Identified parking lots and other important sites will be equipped with CCTV cameras. As many as 95 cameras will keep a close eye on every movement. SAI hostel, police ground, Dari fair ground, Sidhbari and Sakoh have been identified for parking. We are advising locals to use public transport during the match days to help check traffic congestion. Similarly, the entry gates of the stadium would be opened for spectators three hours before the match,” he said.
People coming from Palampur will park their vehicles at Dari while those coming from Pathankot and Chandigarh will go to SAI hostel parking and police ground for parking.
Dharamsala is gearing up for its second IPL season starting next week. This time, three matches would be organised here starting from May 15.
Kings XI Punjab will take on Delhi Daredevils on May 15. The next match will be played between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore on May 17 and the last between Kings XI Punjab and Deccan Chargers on May 21.
The matches are expected to bring in a huge tourist rush to Dharamsala. Already no rooms are available in the city from next week onwards. All hotels are showing full occupancy. Sources say most of the hotels in lower Dharamsala have been booked in advance by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket association (HPCA). In upper areas like Mcleodganj and Bhagsunag, hotels have either been booked by tourists or hoteliers are holding rooms to sell them at a premium during the IPL matches.
Besides, restaurants are also churning up packages for the IPL season. Most restaurants are planning buffets to accommodate the increased inflow of customers. Some restaurants have installed big screens to show the matches live.
About 30,000 people are likely to flood the area in the coming days, which is more than half of the population of Dharamsala and its surrounding areas. Such a huge rush is expected as about 20,000 tickets have been sold by the organisers for each match.
Most of the low-end tickets have been sold and the sources say a few high-end tickets are available.
While the IPL season brings big business to a small hill station like Dharamsala, it also brings to the fore the weaknesses of the area so far as handling huge tourist inflow.
Poor infrastructure a dampner
Narrow roads and lack of parking space are the main problems. As the hill station witnesses frequent traffic jams even in ordinary days, the heavy tourist rush is likely to choke the main roads, especially in the Mcleodganj and Bhagsunag areas.
Nevertheless, the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, headed by the Hamirpur MP and son of Chief Minister, Anurag Thakur, is taking steps to avoid the follies committed during the last IPL season when a large numbers of ticket-holders failed to enter the stadium.
HPCA spokesperson Sanjay Sharma said this year, arrangements have been made that only people having tickets reach the venue. This would prevent chaos near the gates of the stadium and help genuine spectators enter with ease. The police has also been directed not to allow people gather near the venue.
Meanwhile, the BJP that claims the credit for developing Dharamsala as a sports town, is already claiming the credit for bringing IPL matches to this small town. Local Minister Kishan Kapoor has claimed that the matches would bring Dharamsala on the international tourist match for reasons other than the Dalai Lama.
Tight security in place
Meanwhile, the Police Department has pulled up its socks ahead of the matches. Preparations are in full swing as the department does not want to take any chance. The police has prepared a list of star cricketers, including world cup heroes like Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan and others.
“Elaborate security arrangements have been made for the players and dignitaries who are likely to come for the matches. Tight security has also been ensured around the stadium. Proper frisking of the visitors would be done,” said Daljeet Thakur, SP.
More than 1,000 police personnel would be deployed for the security and a sufficient number of traffic police would be seen in the town during the matches, he said. The traffic police has already started imposing a fine on vehicles with tinted or dark glasses. Traffic officials are also warning people to remove dark film on the windows of their vehicles before the matches.
“We are doing our best to ensure efforts for the smooth flow of traffic. Some routes would be turned into one-way during the matches, but the main roads would not be blocked so as to avoid inconvenience to the public,” said the SP. Foolproof security would be provided to the players throughout their stay, right from their hotel rooms to the stadium.
There are chances of world cup players getting mobbed, therefore tight security would be in place for them.
Identified parking lots and other important sites will be equipped with CCTV cameras. As many as 95 cameras will keep a close eye on every movement. SAI hostel, police ground, Dari fair ground, Sidhbari and Sakoh have been identified for parking. We are advising locals to use public transport during the match days to help check traffic congestion. Similarly, the entry gates of the stadium would be opened for spectators three hours before the match,” he said.
People coming from Palampur will park their vehicles at Dari while those coming from Pathankot and Chandigarh will go to SAI hostel parking and police ground for parking.
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