Don’t share Wankhede stadium layout, state told.

DNA; Sudhir Suryawanshi; Friday, March 11, 2011,

The Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the state government not to share Wankhede Stadium’s architectural plan with any third person, as that may put its security under threat.

According to senior police officials, anti-social elements may try to obtain the stadium’s architectural design for logistical support to enter and launch an attack during the cricket World Cup matches.

During the 26/11 attacks, Pakistani terrorists had used plans of the Taj Hotel and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to enter and go about the locations.

A laptop was recently stolen from PWD chief architect Bipin Sankhe’s office. Data about crucial city and state projects like the Wankhede Stadium, the Bandra-Worli Sea Link, etc was stored in it. The Azad Maidan police are probing the case.

“This incident has bolstered our doubts that anti-social elements will be active and try to create havoc in the city to disturb the games. The MCA is taking care to ensure that there is no devastating incident during the matches. We will extend support and coordination to the MCA or any government body,” a senior police official said.

A senior civic official said: “We have recently received a letter from the MCA, saying that senior officials have expressed concerns about a possible attack on the stadium. As a precautionary measure, the MCA has asked us not to give the stadium’s plan to anyone even under the Right to Information Act (RTI).” The MCA has written a similar letter to the state government’s public works department (PWD).

MCA joint secretary Lalchand Rajput confirmed to DNA on Wednesday that a warning letter had been sent to the BMC and the PWD.

“We are taking all precautionary measures against the backdrop of the threat.” The World Cup matches at Wankhede will be held on March 13 and 18 and April 2 (the final).

The US government has also issued a travel alert for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, advising citizens to retain a high level of vigilance during the matches. It has further, however, said in its statement that it has no specific information on a threat to the event.

It said: “Large, high-profile events of this nature can be targets for terrorist attacks.”