All roads to Wankhede

Traffic police officers said though movement was slow due to the large number of vehicles and VIP movements,there were no major hassles thanks to diversions and parking zones arranged for motorists. Trains on the Western line plying towards Churchgate were packed with fans,though there were fewer people than on usual Saturdays.

Sandeep Shirgaonkar,who travelled from Dadar to watch the match,said,“I have a bike but took a train to avoid traffic jams.”

“The traffic arrangements ensured that vehicle movement was smooth,” said a traffic police officer.

The traffic police had arranged for a separate lane from Haji Ali towards Churchgate for spectators and had also designated parking spaces for vehicles at Girgaum chowpatty,Wilson Gymkhana,Hindu Gymkhana,Jamnalal Bajaj Marg,NCPA road and MG Road.

Apart from the local and traffic police officers,the Rapid Action Force,in full riot gear,were also positioned at various entry points of the stadium. The police had also arranged for ambulances to be positioned at various areas around the stadium.

Railway security was beefed up with the Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel manning the tracks adjoining the stadium wall between Churchgate and Marine Lines stations. While Churchgate was abuzz with spectators and vendors selling team India shirts and flags,Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus railway station saw very little crowd on Saturday.

Apart from Marine Lines and Churchgate stations,the GRP had deployed personnel at Charni Road and Grant Road stations. The WR too did not run trains on two tracks between Marine Lines and Churchgate station to a keep safe distance from the stadium.

The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking operated services to ferry commuters from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) to Churchgate. It had added services on more than 21 routes in the city.

Around 3,500 men from the Mumbai Police were deployed in and around the stadium along with five companies of the Rapid Action Force. Nine extra companies of State Reserve Police Force were deployed at important points across the city,with the National Security Guard,Quick Response Teams and Force One on standby at strategic locations in the city.