THE second Day-Night One Day International (ODI) between India and South Africa at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Cricket Stadium in Nava Raipur on Wednesday drew a massive crowd, filling the stands with enthusiastic cricket fans and their cheers for every boundary creating an electrifying atmosphere. Despite the stadium gates opening three hours before the match, heavy traffic congestion was seen around the venue.

 

Long queues of four-wheelers waiting to enter parking areas caused significant delays at every slot. Traffic police faced challenges managing the crowds and directing vehicles to alternate parking sites. Many motorists argued with officers, insisting on parking nearest to the stadium, which aggravated the situation and led to road jams and chaos near parking entrances.

 

The match and toss started on time, but due to traffic snarls, a large number of spectators missed the toss and the first few overs. Fans who could not reach their seats stayed engaged by exchanging live updates on scores. Pillion riders on twowheelers caught in traffic were actively sharing match scores, while many stopped to inquire about the latest developments on the game.

 

One delayed spectator remarked, “We got trapped ourselves in this mess gates opened early, but traffic ruined the start,” highlighting common gripes over poor planning. Another fan in the queue vented, “Can’t blame the pitch or team this time, just the jams missed the first few over!” Despite delays, the crowd’s passion remained electric, emphasizing need for improved traffic management at major events in Nava Raipur.

 

NET WORK ISSUE: Despite BSNL and private c o m p a n i e s announcing increased frequency and network upgrades on existing towers to enhance connectivity inside the stadium, the packed crowd experienced significant network issues. Even the press box struggled, with the technical team frequently changing passwords to manage the problem.