Parking relief for IPL fans at Eden Gardens: Army, police reach agreement
Times of India | 30 March 2025
12 Kolkata: The imbroglio over parking of vehicles in the Maidan area during IPL matches at Eden Gardens is set to be resolved. Five days after the Army — the Maidan's custodian — informed Kolkata Police that parking would not be allowed on the green, officers at Eastern Command and Lalbazar indicated they had "fruitful discussion" at a meeting on Saturday that ended on a "positive note". Neither side issued any official comment on the matter.
"All relevant issues were discussed in a cordial atmosphere and a broad agreement was reached," said a source at Lalbazar. "Nothing will be done without keeping the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) informed," a police officer said, adding: "None of us wants fans to suffer and we are ready to help find solutions."
Sources from both sides said the discussions covered the issue of parking for cars with green stickers, which are issued to match officials and dignitaries. These vehicles are usually parked opposite the Eden Gardens club house. "There are 300 slots here. Even if we arrange for parking near Calcutta High Court, the space will not be available till the area clears out around 7.30 pm. Vehicles start arriving at Eden Gardens by 5 pm. There can be a potential security issue here, which we conveyed to the Army, who gave us a patient hearing," said an officer.
In the unlikely event of a parking ban, around 3,000 spectators would be forced to park their vehicles far away and walk a few kilometres to reach the venue. "Permission to utilise defence land for parking was not obtained from the Local Military Authority. This is contrary to the existing rules for usage of defence land. It is intimated that defence land in Maidan is not available for parking of vehicles for the forthcoming matches as the same is being utilised for military training," an Army letter had stated.
The letter by the Army asked the police "to remove all barricading from defence land within 24 hours (by 8 pm, March 25) if installed for parking". Cops, though, remained mum on whether these barricades will be set up before the April 3 match.
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