A recent inspection by the Uttar Pradesh Public Works Department (PWD) has deemed one of the stands at Green Park stadium structurally unsafe, prompting officials to recommend limited occupancy. The advisory comes ahead of an upcoming Test match, putting the focus on safety measures at the historic venue.
On Tuesday, a team from the PWD, alongside engineers from Harcourt Butler Technical University (HBTU), carried out a routine structural assessment of the stadium. Sanjay Kapoor, the venue director, emphasized that such inspections are standard procedure.
“Whenever there’s an event, government departments conduct their own surveys,” Kapoor said. “This inspection revealed that certain sections of the C block are not suitable for use due to safety concerns.”
The C stand, one of the oldest parts of Green Park, is currently undergoing repairs. The stand’s upper block, which can hold up to 4,800 spectators, will see reduced capacity as a precautionary measure. Following the inspection, only 1,750 seats in the upper block will be available for sale, while the lower block will operate at full capacity.
The venue last hosted a Test match against New Zealand in 2021, which saw some visibility issues during the final stages of play despite the use of floodlights. Kapoor assured fans that the lighting infrastructure is fully operational and ready for the upcoming match.
“All the floodlights are functioning perfectly,” Kapoor stated. “Given the weather forecast, we might need them in the first few days of the match.”
In addition to the safety measures, the stadium has also implemented a two-tier security arrangement to deal with the growing issue of monkeys in the area.
The Kanpur Test is set to kick off on Friday, Sept. 27, with India aiming for a series sweep after their commanding 280-run victory in Chennai last week.
