Residents will get parking passes

Residential buildings in the vicinity of Wankhede stadium will be issued special parking passes for the final match of the 2011 ICC cricket World Cup final to be held on April 2.

Residential buildings in the vicinity of Wankhede stadium will be issued special parking passes for the final match of the 2011 ICC cricket World Cup final to be held on April 2.

HT Image

Highly placed sources in the Mumbai police told HT that the decision was taken during a high level meeting of senior police officials from the south region and the special branch, to review the situation likely to arise during the match.

“Preparations for the final match are being made assuming it would be an India-Pakistan clash. For such an eventuality, the level of security preparedness and local arrangements will have to be of the highest level. So, anything other than that (India-Pak match) can be easily managed,” sources said.

Sources said as per the plan, special parking passes would be issued to residents of D-Road, located close to the stadium. A special parking space would be carved out near the Bombay Hockey Association ground, where residents as well as VVIPs will be allotted spots.

Deputy commissioner of police (DCP), operation, Rajkumar Vhatkar, confirmed the development and said, “However, present plans are subject to last minute change depending on the situation.”

Sources, meanwhile, said during the final match, several roads in south Mumbai would be made no-entry to avoid traffic congestion. Roads used to transport players and their contingent from the hotel to the venue will be sanitised and entry restricted for a definite period.

The police have also decided to deploy snipers (to neutralise hostile targets) on the terraces of high-rises and vantage spots located close to the stadium. The height of the stadium wall has increased, so looking into the stadium from buildings in the vicinity is not possible now.

Also, a network of CCTVs has been installed at the stadium, which is attached to a swanky control room.

A decision has already been taken to not allow parking of private vehicles in the vicinity of Wankhede stadium during the final.