IPL: CMO calls urgent meeting with Rajasthan Royals amid SMS safety concerns

JAIPUR: Ongoing safety concerns at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Stadium, raised by Rajasthan Royals, have intensified fears among local authorities and stakeholders that the city could lose out on hosting the franchise’s home games for the IPL 2026 season. Amid the standoff, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has called an urgent high-level meeting with franchise officials to address the issue and explore a way forward.The meeting is expected to be held on Tuesday or Wednesday, according to a source in the Rajasthan State Sports Council (RSSC).“The meeting for Tuesday or Wednesday is confirmed but whether the CM will attend it or not is still not known,” the source said.This latest development comes hot on the heels of back-to-back reports in The Times of India titled “Royals await BCCI nod on home games” (published Feb 12) and “SMS Stadium falls short of safety standards” (published Feb 13).The two reports highlighted the franchise’s ongoing concerns about structural integrity, fire safety lapses, inadequate evacuation routes, and other deficiencies flagged in a detailed 700-page independent audit commissioned by Royals and conducted by Tata Projects between late Dec and late Jan.The audit, aligned with national codes including the National Building Code, National Electric Code and Fire Safety standards, reportedly confirmed severe shortcomings which make the venue non-compliant for large-scale IPL crowds.Royals have repeatedly sought assurances from the BCCI, IPL governing council and state authorities, while expressing willingness in principle to continue at SMS Stadium, provided formal safety clearances are obtained.The state government has pushed back strongly, with Chief Secretary V Srinivas writing to BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia to affirm that spectator safety is paramount and that a high-level committee (including experts from MNIT, PWD engineers, and others) found the stadium safe overall, with only minor improvements needed.However, the conflicting narratives have fueled anxiety in the city, where the Royals’ home matches are a major source of civic pride, economic activity, and fan excitement. There is also a growing concern that prolonged delays in fixing security and safety issues could force some or all home fixtures to be shifted elsewhere, potentially to Pune, depriving the city of its IPL spotlight.