Patna, March 28: As Mohali gears up to host the mother of all matches, the semi-final clash between India and Pakistan on March 30, Patna is busy making its own preparations to make the game a memorable one.

Special arrangements are being made at city hotels and clubs, but the biggest show is being planned at the newly renovated air-conditioned Rabindra Bhavan, which is going to show the match on 70mm screen.

The big-screen display is being organised by a private company. Rabindra Bhavan, having a seating capacity of 1,000, will open ticket sales from tomorrow.

The main organiser of show, Manoj Singh, said: “Any match between India and Pakistan is special but this is the cricket World Cup and that too being hosted by India. We have arranged the screening on 70mm screen where the audience can enjoy each and every ball of the match. Watching a match on television and on big screen are two different experiences. When 1,000 people will applaud on boundaries and sixes, the atmosphere will be electrifying.”

About the price of the tickets, he said: “The ticket will cost between Rs 250 and Rs 300. A red carpet will be rolled out for the audience and people can also enjoy the match with snacks and cold drinks, the price of which is not included in the ticket. Proper security arrangements have been made as India Pakistan matches are full of tension and excitement. We don’t want rowdy elements to enter the hall, so we have hired 20 bouncers who will keep an eye on the visitors without hurting their feelings.”

Even big hotels in the city have made special arrange-ments for its customers. Dishes named after Indian cricketers are already a hit and now big screens are being put up for the semi-final match.

The hotels are also promising special discounts on the day.

Hotel Maurya and Chankaya, the two popular hotels of Patna, are promising an experience to remember on the match day.

Kunal Trivedi, restaurant manager of Hotel Maurya, said: “We will organise a quiz contest on India-Pakistan matches that day. Special gifts will be given out to the winners.”

The hostels boys are not going to miss the match either. Some hostels, which do not have TV sets, have planned to hire one to watch the match.

It’s Diwali time for firecracker sellers. Demand for crackers has soared and the shop owners are running out of stock.

A shop owner claimed that such kind of demand was not seen during Diwali time too. “People are buying different kind of crackers in bulk and are ready to pay even extra money. In the past two days, I have done a business of Rs 60,000, which is amazing,” said Shekhar Kumar, a shop owner in Patna City area.

Arun Sinha, a firecracker buyer, said: “India have never lost a World Cup match against Pakistan, so I have every reason to celebrate the game with crackers. I am sure that India is going to win the match. I have bought crackers worth Rs 2,000.”