RAWALPINDI: As many as 4,000 police personnel will be deployed for the cricket series being played between Pakistan and New Zealand at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium from Sept 17 (today).

Besides, cricket fans would go through metal detectors, biometric checking and walk-through gates.

A security official said though there was no specific threat in Rawalpindi, the law enforcement agencies were not taking any chance and employing all possible security measures to ensure a peaceful atmosphere.

The Rawalpindi police spokesman said foolproof security arrangements had been made for the cricket series.

He said besides 4,000 security personnel, 350 traffic officers and personnel would maintain traffic. Snipers will also be deployed at the roofs of buildings located around the cricket stadium and on the route. Police pickets will also be established for checking at more than 50 different places.

Separate parking space has been allotted for spectators to the cricket match, he said. On the other hand, the traffic police have devised an alternative traffic plan that includes the closure of Cricket Stadium Road during match.

A spokesman for the City Traffic Police said during the cricket match, the traffic police have devised an alternative traffic strategy that includes the entire shutdown of Cricket Stadium Road with deployment of 327 traffic police personnel to facilitate traffic.

The spokesman said Murree Road from Faizabad to Double Road will be completely closed during the departure and arrival of cricket teams in the stadium.

According to the diversion plan, traffic coming from Islamabad will be diverted from Faizabad to Expressway, while traffic from Rawalpindi to Islamabad will be diverted from 6thRoad Chowk to Saidpur Road.

The spokesman said the traffic coming from Islamabad 9thAvenue will be diverted to IJP road. During the match, Stadium Road will be completely closed on both sides from 9thAvenue Chowk to Double Road.

During the match, extra traffic police will be deployed on alternative routes to facilitate the citizens, he said, adding that traffic wardens will control traffic and provide guidance to citizens on alternative routes.

He said that citizens can also get information through Rawalpindi police social media groups and radio station 88.6 to avoid inconvenience.

Due to closure of Cricket Stadium Road, traffic mess is seen in the city roads as traffic wardens are rarely seen on the busiest road crossings, like Lahore High Court Chowk, Katchery Chowk, Liaquat Bagh, Mareer Chowk and some other part of the downtown city where commuters were facing difficulties.

Published in Dawn, September 17th, 2021