BENGALURU: The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday cleared the decks for the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) to resume hosting international and IPL matches at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, subject to full compliance with safety and security norms recommended by the Justice John Michael Cunha Commission, official sources said to news ageny PTI. The Commission, which probed the June 4 stampede outside the stadium that killed 11 people during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL victory celebration, had reportedly concluded that the design and structure of Chinnaswamy Stadium were “unsuitable and unsafe” for mass gatherings.
It recommended major upgrades, including additional entry/exit gates, purpose-built queuing and circulation zones isolated from public roads, internationally compliant emergency evacuation plans, and adequate parking. Deputy CM D K Shivakumar, who met newly elected KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad and senior office-bearers on Wednesday, said the government had no intention of halting cricket at the iconic venue, but stressed that crowd management needed stringent regulation. KSCA, he said, had agreed to implement all Commission recommendations. The stadium has not hosted marquee fixtures since the stampede. In recent months, the BCCI shifted the Duleep Trophy and the India–South Africa ‘A’ series to its Centre of Excellence on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 matches originally allotted to Chinnaswamy — including the final — were also moved out. KSCA functioned without a treasurer and secretary for months after both resigned on moral grounds. Prasad described his meeting with CM Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar as “positive and fruitful”, adding that KSCA had sought urgent clearance to bring back major matches. “Cricket fans would appreciate it if we can revive games in the iconic stadium,” he said. The Cabinet also discussed a Bill to implement internal reservation among Scheduled Castes, which is expected to be introduced during the ongoing winter session of the legislature. The state has already approved splitting the 17% reservation for 101 SC communities into three groups, with a 6-6-5% formula for SC (Right), SC (Left) and most backward/nomadic communities such as Lambani, Bhovi, Korma and Korcha. In another decision, the Cabinet is learnt to have approved a proposal to levy a Rs 1,000 cess on new vehicles by amending the Karnataka Road Safety Authority Act. The Bill may be introduced in the current session.
