After being kept under 'house arrest' during the World Cup finals, parking restrictions have been imposed again on D Road residents for IPL matches at the stadium
After being kept under 'house arrest' during the World Cup finals, parking restrictions have been imposed again on D Road residents for IPL matches at the stadium
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WHILE IPL 4 has come as a godsend for fans clamouring for more action after Team India lifted the World Cup trophy, residents of the area around the Wankhede Stadium say they have had more than their fill of cricket mania.
D Road residents have been asked to park their vehicles elsewhere to ensure smooth flow of traffic and parking space for spectators during IPL matches
Residents of D Road in Churchgate, who say they felt like they were under house arrest during the World Cup final, will be the worst affected by the eight IPL matches that will be played in the stadium starting today, when Mumbai Indians take on the Kochi Tuskers Kerala.
They have been asked to park their vehicles elsewhere to ensure smooth flow of traffic and say the noise levels during the matches have become a nuisance.
Sharad Haralkar, a resident of D Road said, "This has become a never-ending nuisance. We are told every now and then that we have no right to park our vehicles in our own area. The noise levels during the matches are also very high. Children can't study and senior citizens have problems dealing with the high decibel levels."
Vinod Arora, a senior citizen residing in the area, said, "I have a heart problem and I cannot put up with so many security restrictions at my own home. We felt we were under house arrest because of the World Cup final and now we have to go through something similar again."
A resident, on condition of anonymity, said, "The parties involved in the tournament's organisation are earning truckloads of money and it is a private event.
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Why should we have to suffer because of it? I am planning a birthday party at my place and the cops have told us not to get too many people home. Do they want us to move out from here?"
Residents of E and F roads are also feeling harassed. Nikhil Banker, a resident of F road, said, "We cooperated with authorities during the World Cup and we have to go through it all over again.
Why should we park our cars elsewhere for a private tournament? It is impossible for us to even go to the building opposite ours when the matches are on."
A Ward Federation's Convener Anil Bhatia said, "This was unexpected and we didn't even have time to oppose the restraints being imposed on us. We will decide what to do after the first match in Wankhede is over."
Mumbai Police spokesperson DCP Rajkumar Vatkar said, "Unlike the World Cup final, we won't be having the CISF or the Rapid Action Force this time.
The security arrangements are similar to those during the New Zealand vs Canada and New Zealand vs Sri Lanka matches at Wankhede."
He added that the entry points to the stadium would have similar security arrangements and spectators will have to follow the same set of guidelines which were in place during the World Cup matches.
Room with a view
The residents of the Hemprabha building in Churchgate, who get an excellent view of the Wankhede grounds from their terrace, are happy that they will get to watch the IPL 4 matches for free. They were disappointed during the World Cup finals because they had been asked not to venture onto their terrace then. "We were very upset when we did not get to watch the final because of security measures. We will, however, watch the IPL 4 matches and are eagerly waiting for the matches at Wankhede to begin."
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