World Cup at Wankhede is a nuisance for residents

Wary of huge crowds, parking and waste disposal issues on match days at the Wankhede Stadium, D Road residents are thinking of ways to protect their area

Not all of Mumbai is excited about the ICC Cricket World Cup matches to be held at the Wankhede Stadium. Residents of D Road, Churchgate, are worried about the effect massive crowds will have on their area on days matches are scheduled.


Residents are worried about betel nut spittle and accumulated
garbage thanks to huge crowds on match days choking the green
cover they have painstakingly built. Pic/Bipin Kokate

Already sick of non-stop construction at the stadium, they are worried about parking issues and noise on match days (March 13, New Zealand vs Canada, March 18, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand and the grand final ufffd on April 2).

Mahendra Hemde, a resident, says, "It is a nuisance. On match days, huge crowds climb over the pots placed on along the pavement, damaging them." That's not all. He is also worried about betel nut spittle ruining the area's green cover that the residents have worked hard to increase over the years. Today, there are about 130 trees and over 5,000 smaller plantations on both the sides of the road.

Anil Bhatia, convener of A Ward Federation, says, "We have been trying hard to maintain the street for the last 20 years, but a couple of match days will ruin our work. Garbage, bottles and wrappers choke the area after matches."

Residents say they do not have a concrete plan, but will be putting up placards and posters to stop people from throwing garbage and spitting. Bhatia says, "We are thinking of ways to prevent damage to pots and trees."

An official from the A Ward said, "We will be putting up dustbins and have debris and garbage collected quickly to minimise inconvenience to residents." Bhatia concurs, "I am in touch with A ward officials, who also have plans to maintain the road on match days."

Currently, the Mumbai Cricket Association has been accused of flouting several environmental norms as well as not acquiring an occupation certificate from the fire brigade, stating that the stadium is lacking in fire safety arrangements.