The Karnataka cabinet on Thursday approved the return of Indian Premier League (IPL) matches to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, ending a months-long suspension imposed after a stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title celebrations last June that killed 11 people.
The approval is conditional and based on the Justice Cunha report, which laid out safety recommendations. The stadium will operate with a reduced capacity of 35,000 spectators and must meet multiple safety requirements before matches resume.
Crowd Capped at 35,000, Multiple Safety Conditions Imposed
Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced the decision following a cabinet meeting. “The cabinet agreed with certain conditions as per the Cunha report. He mentioned in the report a maximum of 35,000 people and other conditions. Accordingly, we have made the decision,” Reddy said.
Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwar held a meeting with KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad, government officials, and police to review preparations. The Cunha report divided its recommendations into three categories: immediate measures, medium-term requirements including gates, parking, and ambulances, and long-term infrastructure improvements.
A committee led by the GBA Chief Commissioner, along with the Police Commissioner and officials from Health, PWD, and Fire departments, certified that matches can be conducted safely.
“For all these, on a timeline, they have given us a commitment, and the government has accepted those commitments,” Dr. Parameshwar said.
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No Overselling of Tickets, Officials Warn
Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar made clear that safety rules will be strictly enforced. “They should not sell more tickets than the exact seating availability. They have to implement whatever has been recommended in the report, including providing ambulances, making bigger gates and sub-conditions,” he said.
The meeting included Additional Chief Secretary Tushar Girinath, State DGP M A Salim, GBA Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Home Department Secretary KV Sarathchandra, Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemant Kumar Singh, and RCB office bearers.
KSCA president Venkatesh Prasad called the decision “extremely positive.” Cricket will return to Chinnaswamy Stadium under the 35,000-capacity limit and multi-departmental monitoring.
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The Stampede That Led to SuspensionCricketing activities at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium were suspended following a tragic stampede during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL title celebrations in June 2025. The crowd crush occurred outside the stadium when 200,000 and 300,000 fans gathered at a venue with a capacity for only 35,000.
After RCB’s official Twitter account announced free passes at 3:14 pm, confusion ensued with crowds forcing their way past barricades and scaling fences across eight entry gates. Between 3:45 pm and 5:15 pm, eleven people were confirmed dead on arrival at hospitals, with 56 others injured.
The Justice Cunha committee was formed to investigate the incident and recommend measures to prevent such tragedies in the future. The committee’s report has now become the basis for the conditional approval granted by the Karnataka cabinet.
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