Wankhede stadium to not turn into quarantine centre after local residents complain

Mumbai is one of the worst affected cities in Maharashtra with more than 20,000 Coronavirus cases. The government and the healthcare department is taking all the required steps to contain the spread of the pandemic. Meanwhile, the reports had surfaced last week that the Wankhede Stadium will be turning into quarantine centre where asymptomatic patients were to be housed.

However, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to cancel its plan after the local residents opposed the move. The BMC had sought for the immediate handover of the Wankhede to move the asymptomatic high-risk patients. But the local people were against this and the Marine Drive Residents’ Association also wrote a letter to Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta in this regard.

Municipal Commissioner denies any plan of Wankhede turning into quarantine centre

Interestingly, the Municipal Commissioner IS Chahal cleared that there was no plan to house the patients at Wankhede in the first place. He was also surprised over the news coming out and the letter being issued. ““I am surprised about Wankhede news reports. I had already taken a decision last week, I don’t know where the news is coming from.

“I am surprised because the CM had ordered me that setting up facilities in open grounds will lead to a lot of issues during the monsoon, as there will be muck. There are so many parking facilities which can be used including parking lots of airports, Palladium mall, multi-level parking lots.

“When we have all these, why should we erect these huge pandals on grounds, especially with monsoon around the corner? So there is no such consideration and no stadium will be taken. Open grounds are not a good option,” he said according to Sportstar.

Meanwhile, the local residents are relieved and the Ashok Rao, President of Federation of Churchgate Residents confirmed the same as well. “The residents will definitely be happy as there are a large number of senior citizens in this area,” he said.