Nagpur: As Jamtha Stadium prepares to host the high-voltage India-New Zealand T20I on January 21, the Nagpur traffic police are gearing up for an unprecedented challenge, managing the movement of over 40,000 cricket enthusiasts, alongside routine city traffic. For the first time, authorities will lean heavily on artificial intelligence-driven tools to keep crowds, vehicles and security under control.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Lohit Matani said two AI-powered applications will play a central role in match-day operations. The first, ‘Parking Pal’, will provide real-time updates on parking availability at designated locations around the stadium. “As soon as one parking zone reaches capacity, vehicles will be diverted to the next available location. This will help prevent bottlenecks and unnecessary congestion,” Matani explained.
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The second system, the AI Nirikshak Project, will be deployed extensively for crowd surveillance and security monitoring. Using CCTV cameras installed in and around Jamtha Stadium and along key access routes, the system will track crowd density, flag suspicious movements, detect the possible presence of weapons, and help identify known criminals by matching visuals with entries in the police SIMBA database. “This technology will allow us to respond faster and more accurately to any developing situation,” Matani said.
Complicating the traffic scenario further is the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) scheduled between 3 pm and 5 pm on the same day. One of the exam centres, St Pallotti College, is located on a major traffic artery, which is expected to witness heavy congestion. Traffic police have urged students and parents to factor in additional travel time. “A buffer of at least one hour is advisable to avoid last-minute stress,” Matani appealed.
To ease pressure on city roads, commuters have been advised to avoid Wardha Road unless absolutely necessary, particularly during peak congestion windows between 5 pm and 7 pm, and later between 10 pm and 11.30 pm. Movement of heavy vehicles on match-day routes will be restricted, with alternative diversions planned to ensure smoother flow.
Cricket fans have also been strongly encouraged to opt for public transport, especially the Metro rail, to reach the stadium and reduce the load on road networks.
Parking zones at Jamtha Stadium
• Parking A: VIPs, police and media
• Parking B: Four-wheelers
• Parking C (Anvita Farms): Two-wheelers
• Parking D-1: Four-wheelers on one side, two-wheelers on the other
• Parking D-2, D-3, D-4, D-5 & E (Ultratech): Four-wheelers
• Parking G: VCA members only
• Parking H: School buses
• Parking I: Reserved parking
With cricket fever gripping the city and technology stepping into traffic control, authorities hope smart planning, and smarter commuting, will ensure a smooth match-day experience for fans and residents alike.
