RCB will face SRH in the IPL 2026 tournament opener on March 28 in Bengaluru.
The announcement came after a meeting between KSCA officials, the Home Minister, and an expert team to assess the stadium's safety and infrastructure measures. official spokesperson,
Vinay Mruthyunjaya, KSCA's Official Spokesperson, said that the government granted permission after examining the safety work conducted at the venue.
"We are extremely happy to inform you that the government has permitted us to play the IPL matches at Chinnaswamy Stadium. All five matches that RCB had proposed will be played here, and the playoffs and finals are also likely to be held at the stadium," Vinay Mruthyunjaya was quoted as saying by NDTV.
He added that the government has issued a formal permission letter allowing the matches to be conducted.
"The government has also asked us to ensure that all safety guidelines and standard operating procedures are strictly followed," he said.
The Expert Committee toured the stadium and examined the work undertaken during Phase 1. The inspection took place on March 13, and inspectors conducted a thorough review of infrastructure and safety measures before granting the green signal to KSCA.
"As committed by the KSCA, all the Phase 1 works have been completed to the satisfaction of the Expert Committee. They conducted a personal inspection across the stadium to verify the work done," Mruthyunjaya explained.
During the inspection, the committee also recommended further safety precautions to be taken on match days.
KSCA Vice President Sujith Somasundar stated that the expert committee also recommended raising public awareness about the stadium's enhanced safety precautions.
"They were also of the opinion that we should have a strong social media campaign where we would inform the public about all the safety measures. We will educate spectators on how to attend a match of this magnitude, including information on exit points and other arrangements such as ambulance services and additional safety measures that have been incorporated," he said.
Somasundar added that the stadium has now been cleared to host matches at full capacity.
"The full capacity of the stadium is about 33,000 spectators. The authorities have given us permission to host matches at full capacity since all the safety measures have been completed," he said.
According to the KSCA, the stadium would shortly be turned over to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) under the terms of the existing stadium deal. The association will also assist the franchise in ensuring that all safety criteria are met.
"We will hand over the stadium to RCB as per the stadium agreement and assist them in ensuring that all safety standards are maintained," Mruthyunjaya said.
Several proposals from several government agencies were included in the Phase 1 work, which was mostly focused on enhancing stadium crowd control and disaster preparedness.
Widening stadium gates, expanding the number of departure points, establishing holding rooms inside the stadium, and facilitating spectator admission and exit were among the police department's recommendations.
Additionally, officials recommended increasing the flow from Cubbon Road, which is wider and better suited for crowd movement, and decreasing the number of spectators entering through Queen's Road.
"All the measures recommended by the Expert Committee under Phase 1 have been fully implemented," Mruthyunjaya said.
With the formal clearance now in place, Bengaluru is set to host IPL matches once again at the iconic Chinnaswamy Stadium. Bangalore.
(NDTV inputs)