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India–South Africa ODI Fever Peaks in Raipur Ahead of December 3 Clash

  • By Thetripurapost Desk, Raipur
  • Dec 01, 2025
  • 23

With the India–South Africa ODI series shifting to Raipur, anticipation has reached a crescendo as both teams landed at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium on Monday evening. The squads, arriving together on a chartered flight from Ranchi at 4:30 pm, greeted an enthusiastic crowd with waves and smiles, further intensifying the city’s cricketing fervour. India currently leads the three-match series 1–0 after a commanding win in Ranchi.

High-Profile Practice Session Scheduled

Captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and other marquee players are slated to hit the nets on Tuesday, drawing thousands of fans eager to witness their pre-match preparation. Authorities expect a massive turnout on match day, with projections exceeding 40,000 spectators.

Security Recalibrated Amid PM-Level Deployment

In a significant logistical reshuffle, nearly 2,000 police personnel initially assigned to the DGP-IGP conference—held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi—have now been redirected to secure the ODI event. Multi-layered security arrangements are being implemented to ensure smooth crowd movement and safety.

Ticket Chaos: Black Marketing, Pre-Dawn Queues, and Police Intervention

The feverish demand for match tickets has created turbulence across Raipur:

  • On November 30, Civil Lines police arrested two black-marketers—Hrithik Makija and Devvrat Makija from Fafadeep—for allegedly buying tickets illegally and reselling them at exorbitant rates.

  • Police sealed roads around Bharat Mata Chowk to prevent further illegal activity.

  • Fans who booked online in the first phase flocked to the indoor stadium to collect physical copies.

  • Reserved student tickets were opened on Monday, triggering massive queues from as early as 4 a.m.

  • When sales officially began at 10 a.m., jostling erupted among students; even girls attempted to breach barricades and engaged in heated exchanges with police.

  • Mild force was used to disperse the crowd and restore order.

The first round of online ticket sales saw 16,000 tickets vanish within 15 minutes, causing confusion when a “Sold Out” message appeared, despite a second round of ticket release still pending.

Parking and Traffic Blueprint for Match Day

Authorities have announced a comprehensive mobility plan to accommodate the massive inflow of spectators:

  • Four major parking zones within 500–700 meters of the stadium—Parasada (Sathya Sai Hospital), Navagaon Mor, and Kosa grounds—can jointly hold 20,000+ vehicles.

  • Additional temporary parking for 2,000 cars has been established around the venue.

  • Only 60 vehicles will be permitted inside the VVIP pavilion parking area.

  • Special passes have been issued to Gold/Platinum ticket holders, Corporate Box guests, and select government VVIPs.

  • General spectators must park in designated outer lots.

Exclusive Secure Route for Players and Officials

A dedicated high-security corridor has been carved out for team buses, match officials, and top dignitaries. The restricted route covers Nava Raipur Stadium Turning → Chandulal Chandrakar Chowk → Kayabandha → Kabir Chowk → Kotrabhatha → Sector 9 → Sendh Talab Bank → Sector 10 → Palaud Turn → Stadium Gate. Only pass-authorized vehicles will be granted entry.