Is it a stadium of military base?

Never before in its history of existence has Wankhede stadium staged such an important match

  • By K.R. Nayar, Chief Cricket Writer
  • Published: 15:38 April 1, 2011

  • Image Credit: AP
  • Pakistani cricket fans hold up a poster of Shahid Afridi, captain of the Pakistani cricket team, at Karachi airport to welcome players returning to Pakistan on Friday, April 1, 2011. Pakistan were defeated by India in the semifinal of the ICC Cricket World Cup in the Indian city of Mohali.
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Mumbai: Never before in its history of existence  has Wankhede stadium staged such an important match. As a reporter in this city many years ago, it was the easiest stadium to access. All one had to do was to walk for about five minutes from Churchgate station and you would be in you press box seat.

Today one has to take a whole circle around the stadium to get inside. The press box has been shifted to the opposite site of the main pavilion.

Following the terrorist threat, the whole stadium looks like a battleground with gun totting police men stationed at every corner. All of South Mumbai has been declared a no flying zone. The State Reserve Police Force has been posted at different points across the city.

And if that was not enough, the Army, Navy and Air Force have been kept on alert with the Marine Commandos and helicopters on stand- by. Even the day before the match one had go through a three tier security cordon to enter the stadium.

Wearing bullet- proof uniforms the Rapid Action Force could be seen standing alert closely watching everyone walking into the stadium. CCTV cameras positioned all around constantly focus on everyone entering the stadium and I counted atleast 50 of them on my way to the practice area.

All these security measures gives one the feeling of entering a military base rather than a cricket stadium. A one kilometer radius around the stadium has been declared a no vehicle zone.

The Marine Drive beach, which is near to the stadium, will remain closed till the match gets over. Incidentally, the Marine Drive Residents Association has appealed to the police to permit them to travel in case of emergencies.

Tourists visiting Mumbai will not get to go near the Gateway of India. Police has placed barricades all around it as both teams are staying at Hotel Taj located next to this historical monument.
 

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