Sachin’s last bow: Police,BMC flooded with ‘ticket’ requests

For all major matches,Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) hands out a quota of tickets to governing agencies,including BMC.

Mayor Sunil Prabhu defiantly said he himself would use the tickets he received from BMC through MCA. “People keep asking me for tickets. I just tell them that I have got tickets booked for myself and I will go watch Sachin play. I understand that many people want to see him play for the last time. But MCA can’t increase the stadium limit to to fulfill people’s wishes. Fans should have been alert and booked tickets earlier,” Prabhu said.

As many as 2,500 police personnel will be deployed in a four-tier security system around the stadium for the duration of the match,police said. A network of CCTV cameras has also been set up.

“The first security tier will be posted inside the stadium. We have deployed a special team to ensure that they do not turn their backs on the spectators,” said a senior officer.

“Our work will at the stadium will begin on November 11. We will have to be at the stadium from 5.30 am till late evening for a week,” said a senior officer.

Senior south region officers have also been receiving frantic calls from IPS officers posted outside the city. “An officer called me recently asking for ten tickets. He said he was willing to pay any price. I told him I would not be able to help,” said an IPS officer.

Standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator Rahul Shewale,said,“People tell me if I get them tickets,they will vote for me. I don’t think it is a threat but they are using it as an incentive,” said Shewale,who is tipped to be Sena’s candidate for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

NCP leader Dhananjay Pisal said his priority was to ensure tickets for 13 party corporators.

NCP ministers Chhagan Bhujbal,R R Patil and Sachin Ahir also have to fend off cricket enthusiasts in the party. Patil reportedly said,“Come with public issues,not cricket issues.” Since deputy leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Gopinath Munde became a member of MCA,cricket lovers in the BJP are trying to seek his help for tickets. A close aide of Munde said,“We have to politely tell them that Munde does not wield enough clout to ensure tickets.”

“Most of the tickets will be sold online but a percentage of them will be sold at the stadium. MCA told us that they would inform us a day in advance,” said a police officer. “Ticket sales will begin on November 11,” said MCA joint secretary P V Shetty.

(with INPUTS from TANUSHREE VENKATRAMAN & ANJALI LUKOSE)