While locals complain of difficulty in getting around due to barricades, cafe owners and rag-pickers make a killing off the event
While locals complain of difficulty in getting around due to barricades, cafe owners and rag-pickers make a killing off the event
The much-touted 13th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon came with its fair share of trouble and joy for Mumbaikars. Locals on the route of the marathon complained of being unable to get around due to the barriers and even found it difficult to reach basic services like going to the market or to the hospital. However, some establishments along the marathon route were happy with the event as it boosted their sales by nearly 70 per cent and the marathon presented scavengers an opportunity to collect waste that would have taken them a month to accumulate.
Trouble started for citizens as the roads were closed with barriers. People who wanted to go to Cama Hospital from CST had to take a long alternative route, and those wanting to go to Metro cinema, from CST station struggled to get past the barricades. Seventy two-year-old Kanta Devi Vyas was miffed with the marathon as she found it difficult to reach Cama Hospital where her daughter Sudha Sharma was admitted. Firstly, when she tried to enter from the CST side she was stopped by the police, and later was stopped again when she tried to move inside through the food lane and then behind the BMC headquarters. “These people don’t have mercy on a senior citizen, in this age, I am just roaming from here and there and getting scolding from volunteers and cops. Do you think in this age, I can tolerate this much of harassment ” Ms Devi said.
Another group that wanted to go to a well-known eatery opposite CST station, was unable to reach the place. A member of this group, Anmol Pathak, told The Asian Age, “We walked till Times of India building, stepped on the middle bridge of CST to got down behind court and walked till St. Xavier’s College to find a way to cross the road for McDonald’s, but nothing helped. The way for Marine drive via Metro cinema was also closed, it seems our Sunday is spoiled now.”
Similar problems were faced by police officials as well. Some of the policemen were seen informing people about the new routes and guiding them. Commenting on this, a sub-inspector from Chembur area who did not wish to be named said, “We are here since 3 am and I have been on duty at CST station. Lots of people are coming here for the marathon but there are others who want to go to Crawford market are using the same route as some of the roads are blocked. And I have been guiding them to use alternate routes.” Another policeman from LT Marg police station said, “Everyone is aware that the marathon will be taking place and they are here to have fun at the event. Citizens have been facing trouble due to barricades but they understand the situation and things are running smoothly here.”
Due to the marathon, restaurants and coffee houses near the venue were crowded throughout the day. Commenting on it, a staff of McDonald’s branch near CST, A. Patil said, “Due to the marathon, the number of our customers has increased by 70 per cent. Families and friends of the runners are spending their time eating here while they wait.”
Another person who gained much from the marathon is paan shop owner Hariprasad Chuabe near Metro cinema. He said, “After the marathon, tired runners opt to smoke cigarettes and they visit my shop. What I have earned within four hours on Sunday is equal to my income of ten days.”
Also sharing the profit deal was an idli-vada vendor Dilip Rajnarayan. He was seen walking from one place to another with two kettles in his hand and a basket filled with idli and vada. Mr Rajnarayan said, “I have been selling the food since the morning and have earned a good amount as compared to other days.”
Similarly scavengers were also happy, as they got several fruit, cheese sandwiches and expensive energy drinks from the runners. Gopi Nagdhire, an eight-year-old rag-picker said, “A runner came and gave us three apples and a few bottles of an energy drink, which he was left with after the run.”
Another rag-picker, Rajesh Harijan, was overjoyed as soon as marathon got over as the runners left several empty plastic bottles lying on the road for him to collect. “I will collect these bottles and sell them. Normally, collecting this many number of bottles takes me a month,” said Mr Harijan.
