The Mumbai police has denied having any knowledge of the United States First Lady Michelle Obama's wish to visit the red light area of Kamathipura here during her two-day visit to the city. “I don't know if the U.S. First Lady wanted to go to Kamathipura,” Sanjeev Dayal, Commissioner of Police, said during a press conference on Thursday.
He said this after a reporter asked why Michelle Obama was advised not to visit Kamathipura area. When asked if such a visit could be arranged now, if she expressed the wish, Mr. Dayal said it was too late.
Around 43,000 personnel — which is the entire force of the Mumbai Police — will be pressed into service for the security arrangements for U.S. President Barack Obama's visit. Mr. Dayal said that joint-exercises with the U.S. forces had already begun and would continue.
The Mumbai Police conducted a security rehearsal at the Taj Hotel on Thursday morning even as Mr. Dayal visited the hotel to check the security arrangements. He said that the drill was a part of the regular rehearsal. “I request the media to not press us about information on the V.I.P. security issues,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mumbai's traffic police on Thursday declared the schedule of traffic restrictions on November 6 and 7. Vivek Phansalkar, Joint Commissioner, Traffic, gave the information in detail at a press conference here. “There are no blanket closures of any roads,” he said.
Mumbai traffic headquarters will deploy 650 personnel including one Additional Commissioner of Police, three Deputy Commissioners of Police, five Assistant Commissioners of Police, 25 inspectors and 50 sub-inspectors for traffic management during those two days.
All access roads to the Taj hotel will be blocked from the 6th morning to the 7th afternoon. Five main roads, three streets and two lanes approaching the hotel will be closed.
The traffic restrictions would also apply for vehicular movement and parking on the roads on which the V.I.P. entourage travels. The police have divided the days in three to four-hour time-slots. “Certain roads will be closed for a few hours of the day and we will provide diversions at essential places,” Mr. Phansalkar said.
He said that the arterial roads of the city like Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg and P. Demello Road would remain open for easy traffic movement.
On Saturday, November 6, the following will be the traffic restrictions in different time slots:
Shahid Bhagatsingh Marg and BEST Marg will remain closed from 11.45 am to 2.45 pm. The public has been asked to use Salgaonkar Marg, Nathalal Parekh Marg and Madam Kama road instead.
From 2 pm to 4.15 pm, the traffic approaching South Mumbai will be diverted at Worli Naka, to be passed through E. Moses Road and the J.J. Flyover. Similarly, traffic moving towards North Mumbai will have to go through Mantralay, the J.J. Flyover and Babasaheb Ambedkar Marg.
Peddar Road will be closed from Kemps Corner to the RTI Junction. Similarly, Walkeshwar Road will remain closed from Teen Batti to Bandstand during the same time.
Between 1 pm and 8 pm, traffic towards South Mumbai will be diverted from Sundar Mahal Junction through Hutatma Chowk and M.G. Road. Traffic towards North Mumbai will travel from Mantralay Junction, Madam Kama Road, through Maharshi Karve Road, Opera House Junction and ahead.
P. Ramchandani Marg, BEST Marg, Cooperage Marg and K.B. Patil Marg will remain closed between 4 pm and 6.30 pm.
On Sunday, November 7, the following traffic restrictions will be laid:
Between 8 am and 2 pm, BEST Marg, Cooperage Marg, Madam Kama Road, Mahapalika Marg, lanes near the Xavier's College and all feeder roads to Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil Marg will remain closed, among other roads in South Mumbai.
