CJP protest: Mumbai Police beef up security for Shivaji Park Tiranga March

The atmosphere at Shivaji Park in Dadar has shifted from intense protest to widespread celebration following Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s resignation on Saturday. Pics/Atul Kamble

The tiranga march in solidarity with students protesting the paper leaks will go on as planned at 10 am on Sunday at Shivaji Park, except it will now be a success rally, announced Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, the leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT) and MNS, respectively.

With a large turnout anticipated, police have made extensive security preparations along the route and at key congregation points to ensure law and order and facilitate smooth movement of the crowd.

A comprehensive bandobast will be in place from the early hours of Sunday. Barricading at key locations, regulation of pedestrian movement and close monitoring through the city's surveillance network will form part of the security plan. Police officials said the fact that the rally is being held on a Sunday is likely to ease traffic management, as office-hour vehicular movement is expected to be significantly lower.

The focus of the security arrangements will remain on Shivaji Park, Dadar railway station, Portuguese Church junction, Siddhivinayak Temple and other locations where large crowds are expected to gather. Commuters travelling through Dadar, Prabhadevi and adjoining areas may experience congestion during the course of the march.

Traffic management efforts

Officials said a no-parking zone will be enforced on Swatantrya Veer Savarkar Marg from Shivaji Park to the Yes Bank junction and up to Chaityabhoomi to facilitate the rally. Traffic from the Mahim side will be diverted at the Yes Bank junction towards Raja Bade Chowk due to the programme on Veer Savarkar Road, while traffic from the Worli side will be diverted at the Siddhivinayak junction.

Uddhav, Raj say...

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and MNS chief Raj Thackeray addressed a joint press conference at Matoshree on Saturday. The cousins hailed the students' movement as a victory for democracy, and pledged support to the movement. Uddhav congratulated CJP leader Abhijeet Dipke, students, and their parents for sustaining the movement. "Tomorrow at Shivaji Park, we will come to celebrate the victory of the youngsters. They brought the government back on the ground," Raj said. Also present were Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray.