• World Cup 2011

Wankhede Stadium gets green light to host final

ESPNcricinfo staff
February 22, 2011
Renovation work in full swing at the Wankhede Stadium © Getty Images
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The Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, the venue for the World Cup final, has been given an all clear by the city's Fire Brigade to stage matches during the tournament.

Last week, the same body had asked the stadium authorities to undertake measures to improve the venue's fire-safety mechanism as they didn't find it in compliance with fire-safety norms. However, a No Objection Certificate was issued to the venue on Tuesday after the preventive measures and systems in place, following a fourth inspection, were found to be satisfactory.

"We have given NOC to the stadium. They have fulfilled all the fire safety norms at the stadium," deputy chief fire officer AN Shinde told PTI. "We have given them the compliance certificate. They can host matches. The stadium is safe and secure."

The Wankhede Stadium has undergone renovation in the lead-up to the World Cup. "The stadium had been issued an Occupation Certificate long back. So there was no question of withholding it. We had to verify whether the changes made at the stadium are similar with the existing fire safety norms and then issue an NOC," Shinde said.

Apart from the final, the Wankhede will host two World Cup group matches featuring New Zealand, Canada and Sri Lanka.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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