Harrowed Marine Drive residents wait for traffic meet nearer to World Cup

Hassled Marine Drive residents, who have been battling problems due to construction work and other parking issues, can hope for some solution in the traffic meeting scheduled to be held nearer to the World Cup by Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) officials.

In a meeting on Thursday at the MCA office, residents were assured that they will be involved in matters related to traffic arrangements.

With the World Cup final expected to take place at the Wankhede stadium in 2011, the authorities are working beyond the construction hours.

The work continues late into the night inconveniencing the D Road residents where the main gate opens.

During matches, residents also face trouble over parking due to the large number of cars parked in the bylanes.

“We have assured them that during the World Cup, there won’t be any chaos, with respect to parking, as cars will not be allowed on that road. We are trying to reserve parking space at Inox and arrange for drop facility,” said Lalchand Rajput, secretary of MCA.

Residents were also looking at the possibility of parking at the promenade.

On the noise issue, however, the meeting did little to pacify residents, as the officials asked for another fortnight to complete the debris work. “It is easy for them to cut out a sorry figure. Life for us is hell. The noise not just disturbs us in the morning but throughout the night. They have promised to end it by December,” said Sharad Harlalka, a resident.

“We asked them to increase the number of workers instead of working late into the night which they have agreed to,” said Ashok Rao, president of the Federation of Churchgate Residents.