At least 400 traffic police personnel will be deployed within a radius of 2 km from Wankhede Stadium,starting Thursday for the duration of Sachin Tendulkars last test match,said traffic police. While crowd control will begin from central Mumbai,traffic arrangements are being made keeping in mind parking facilities. While those coming from eastern suburbs will be allowed to park their vehicles at Ballard Pier and near Inox theatre at Nariman Point,spectators from western suburbs will be directed to park their vehicles at Nana Nani Park and the long service road near Gymkhana road at Marine Drive. With all the parking locations away from the venue,commuters traveling in private vehicles will have to walk up to the stadium. Traffic will also directed through heavy signage boards and Variable Message Signboards (VMS) instructing spectators towards parking slots by Wednesday night. To ensure that traffic checks are in place at regular stretch intervals on all the roads leading to the venue,parking arrangements and barricading will begin 12 hours before the test match. Meanwhile,separate arrangements have been made for residents near Wankhede Stadium. Residents near the venue have been given passes for their vehicles. Any resident who has more than one vehicle has been asked to seek an alternate parking spot for the other vehicle, said Brijesh Singh,additional commissioner of police (traffic). Traffic police had earlier asked the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) for parking arrangements in all the four Gymkhanas in south Mumbai. A decision on this is yet to be taken. MCA has also been asked to provide parking at private and pay and park slots in south Mumbai for spectators. Pedestrians will also be required to walk in demarcated areas that lead to the venue,said traffic police. mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com
