The chief of Nepal Police has promised foolproof security for the 13th South Asian Games, with a massive mobilisation of security personnel in three host cities—Kathmandu, Pokhara and Janakpur.

Around 6,000 athletes and officials from seven countries of the region are participating in the 10-day multi-disciplinary event which begins on Sunday.

An integrated security ring, involving 18,000 personnel from all four security agencies—Nepal Army, Armed Police Force, Central Investigation Bureau and Nepal Police—will be deployed for the Games, Inspector General of Nepal Police Sarbendra Khanal told a conference organised by the Games’ Press and Publicity Committee on Thursday.

Of the total personnel, 16,000 will be stationed in Kathmandu, added Khanal, who is also the coordinator of the Games’ Security Committee.

Transporting players to competition venues on time, making foolproof security arrangements for the VIPs and players at hotels across the Valley are major challenges, Khanal explained. "We have made the security arrangements upon evaluating those factors," he said, without elaborating.

Nepal Police has also set up a security coordination desk at the Tribhuvan International Airport for the swift security clearance of participating athletes and officials, it was announced at the conference. Also in place will be a special task force, rescue and disaster management team and medical team.

On the occasion, Khanal also appealed to the public for implementing the odd and even number system on vehicles for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games to avoid traffic gridlock.

"Keeping in view the movements of VVIPs, VIPs, players and visiting guests, we urge everyone to use the minimum number of vehicles on the opening and closing days of the Games as per Nepali calendar," Khanal said. He also revealed a plan to declare the Tripureshwor-Shahid Gate road one-way on the opening and closing days of the event.

According to the plan, vehicles will only be allowed to move from Tripureshwor towards Shahid Gate. The traffic coming from Shahid Gate will have to take a detour through the Maitighar-Thapathali section to get to Tripureshwor.

“Tundikhel has been designated a parking venue for the spectators coming to the Dashrath Stadium,” Khanal said, also calling on the public not to blow horns as Kathmandu has already set an example in South Asia as a 'horn-free zone'.

During the conference, the National Sports Council announced that e-Sewa, the digital payment gateway, has been named as the ticket booking partner of the Games.

As per the deal between the two, e-Sewa will sell tickets for volleyball, football, basketball and cricket matches through its online payment system. Tickets can be purchased through e-Sewa's website and mobile app.

Council’s Member-Secretary Ramesh Kumar Silwal also announced that for the first time in the country each ticket for a football match at Dashrath Stadium will carry a seat number. Spectators will have to present their identity cards with a ticket to enter the stadium.

“Spectators will be liable for any damage to seats or other facilities as a result of their unsporting behaviour,” Silwal said.

The capacity of the Dashrath Stadium has been reduced from 18,000 to 15,900 following renovation after the 2015 earthquakes. But only 14,000 tickets will put on sale owing to security reasons.