The 11pm to 5am night curfew has been relaxed for two hours because of the T20 match between India and New Zealand on Sunday.
“Restrictions related to movement of people and vehicles shall be relaxed from 11pm on November 21 to 1am on November 22 for spectators, players, match officials, organizers and other people associated with the match,” said a notification from Nabanna on Saturday evening.
The match starts at 7pm. Gates will open at 5pm, said organisers.
A full match is expected to end around 11pm. An 11pm to 5am night curfew is in force in Calcutta.
International cricket returns to the Eden Gardens after 726 days on Sunday.
A rejuvenated Indian side led by Rohit Sharma and coached by Rahul Dravid will look to make a clean sweep of the three-match series.
On March 18, 2020, India was supposed to have played South Africa in an ODI in Eden. The match was called off because of Covid and days later, a nationwide lockdown was imposed.
Before that, Bangladesh played India in a Test match from November 22, 2019.
A turnout of maximum 70 per cent of the stadium capacity will be allowed on Sunday, as per a state government directive. It means around 47,000 people.
A heads-up, before heading out for the stadium
Checks
• Masks are mandatory for entry into the stadium
• RT-PCR test results or vaccination certificates not needed to enter the ground
• Spectators will have to undergo thermal scanning before entering the stadium
Metro
• A pair of additional trains will run on Sunday night for spectators headed home. The trains will leave Esplanade — for New Garia and Dakshineswar — at 10.30pm, the carrier said. The last trains usually leave the terminal stations at 9.30pm. Booking counters at Esplanade will be open for the additional trains. Smart card is must for Metro ride. No tokens will be issued
Don’t carry
• Power bank, lighter, selfie stick, sharp objects, backpack, bottle, umbrella, camera, outside food, helmet, binocular
Weather
• Mainly clear sky. Rain is unlikely, the Met office said
Traffic
• Movement of vehicles towards roads and thor-oughfares skirting Eden Gardens shall remain suspended from 4pm on Sunday and will remain in force till 1 am in the wee hours of Monday
• Auckland Road and Kingsway will be closed to all types of vehicles from 4pm on Sunday till the dispersal of crowd post-match. Parking of vehicles have been banned on both sides of Government Place East, Government Place West, Rani Rashmoni Avenue, Old Court House Street and Red Road. Vehicles will not be allowed to stand or park on either side of Mayo Rod and Dufferin Road
• Buses and minibuses from south Calcutta will be diverted through Rani Rashmoni Avenue towards the Netaji statue, Government Place East and Old Court House Street. “Depending on the traffic situation, buses and other vehicles may be diverted from JL Nehru Road towards Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Mission Row and Mangoe Lane,” said a senior police officer
• The long-distance bus stands at Band Stand and Auckland Row will be shifted to Kiran Shankar Roy Road. Motorists from south Calcutta may take AJC Bose Road, St Georges Gate Road and Strand Road to reach Dalhousie. From the north, vehicles will take BB Ganguly Street or SN Banerjee Road to reach the Dalhousie area on Sunday