Mumbai stadium get safety nod

Mumbai’s newly-renovated Wankhede Stadium has cleared fire safety standards and is fit to host World Cup matches, according to a news report on Tuesday.

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Officials from the Mumbai Fire Brigade who inspected the stadium on Tuesday said the venue had complied with all the fire safety norms, Press Trust of India said.

“We have given them a compliance certificate. They can host matches. The stadium is safe and secure,” A. N. Shinde, Mumbai’s deputy chief fire officer, said.

Last week, the fire department officials had given match organisers a scare when they declared that they were unhappy with the fire safety system at the venue.

Wankhede Stadium, which seats around 45,000 spectators, is the venue for three World Cup matches, including the final on April 2.

Allaying fears about the stadium, World Cup tournament director Ratnakar Shetty said Sunday that security would not be compromised and that all fire safety norms would be met.

Shinde said fire officials had made four rounds of inspections of the stadium before issuing a “no objection certificate.”

The Mumbai Fire Brigade would also have fire trucks, water tankers and firefighters posted at the stadium during the matches, he said.

Wankhede will also host two group matches — New Zealand vs. Canada on March 13 and New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka on March 18.