- Robivaar, Efril Ate, Too Touzan Tuvel
The Corporators of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagare Palike (BBMP) have thrown up a Bahut Bada Maha Problem for the IPL and the KSCA by demanding no less than 400 free passes to be given to them for the IPL matches to be played in the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Namma Bengaluru. They threatened to withdraw the concession on the local taxes and even reminded the KSCA that the land on which the stadium stands is theirs.
The Corporators of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagare Palike (BBMP) have thrown up a Bahut Bada Maha Problem for the IPL and the KSCA by demanding no less than 400 free passes to be given to them for the IPL matches to be played in the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Namma Bengaluru. They threatened to withdraw the concession on the local taxes and even reminded the KSCA that the land on which the stadium stands is theirs.
The IPL and the KSCA held a joint sitting two days back at a
secret venue (actually it was in the Store Room under the B Stand, but nobody
knew this; some invitees even got lost trying to find it and were lucky to
rescued by a group of members of The Cricket, Grasshopper and Praying Mantis
Lovers Club who happened to be there on a sight seeing tour, but that’s another
story) to sort out this issue.
The KSCA wanted to give in to the demand and be done with it
rather than face the prospect of paying higher taxes to the BBMP apart from the
looming threat of losing the very stadium which stands on land leased from the
BBMP. But the IPL representatives had other ideas. One member suggested that
they approach the owners of the visiting teams to sponsor the passes but this
idea was shot down for fear that they may refuse to play.
Finally, after some hot and very serious deliberations involving
elevenses, lunch, high tea and dinner, it was decided that the Corporators
would be given free passes to watch the matches on giant screens inside the
Kingfisher Lounge (which is presently lying vacant due to holiday season) at
the Bengaluru International Airport. Kingfisher Airlines will provide its
Airport Coaches (which are presently not being used on account of holiday
season) for transportation and the local cricket clubs will take turns to depute
their cricket coaches to stand by while the matches are going on to explain the
finer points of the game to the Corporators. A national oil company (whose name
will be revealed later at a separate naming ceremony) will sponsor the cost of fuel
for the Airport Coaches (as Kingfisher expressed certain difficulties in
obtaining fuel) while the UB Group will provide fuel for the cricket coaches.
The brilliant idea was put forward to the Corporators this morning
and they have indicated that they would give their response very soon. But they
have demanded free passes for the matches to be played in the meantime and have
threatened to stage a walk out if their demand is not met (they have not
indicated from where they will walk out).
