The Marine Drive observed unusually high foot traffic on Friday evening as people thronged this popular seafront promenade before heading into the weekend. The popular seafront road, known popularly as the “Queen’s Necklace,” observed a constant stream of visitors right from the late afternoon onwards, and this swelled further post-sunset as people assembled to enjoy the cooling breeze and the festivities accompanying the end of the year.
With the weekend falling in a manner where the last days of the year also happened to be a weekend, many Mumbaikars made it a point to go out over the weekend to unwind after office, while all the tourists heading to the city made sure Marine Drive was a destination they visited. The promenade was dotted with people from all categories, including families, couples, college-going youngsters, and lone travelers.
Traffic flow on Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Rd was noticeably slower during the peak hours of the evening because of the large number of visitors. Traffic was moving at a crawl, with people crossing the road to reach the beachside promenade, leading to traffic police personnel being deployed to direct both traffic and pedestrians. According to traffic police personnel, temporary barricading of specific points was done to facilitate easy flow of visitors and prevent accidents.
Street food stalls and nearby restaurants also registered an increase in customer turnover. Stalls dealing in food items, ice cream, and drinks registered high turnover as people lingered in the waterfront areas. The owner of a nearby shop stated that weekends and holidays generate adequate crowd, but the crowd on Friday was quite high, suggesting intense public interest as a result of the approaching New Year.
The Mumbai police were present in large numbers along Marine Drive to ensure that people were safe. The police were seen patrolling along Marine Drive, while others were observing the crowd to ensure that there was not much congestion, with safety guidelines being adhered to. According to police officials, rash driving, illegal parking, or nuisance activities were specifically prevented.
The civic authorities also coordinated with the police to manage cleanliness and basic amenities. Sanitary staff were deployed in shifts to take care of the augmented generation of waste, while the civic staff ensured that basic amenities functioned properly. The officials appealed to the crowd to extend their cooperation in this matter.
Regular visitors of Marine Drive have noticed that it has become an increasingly popular weekend getaway for people who are looking for some open space and an easy-going atmosphere. “Marine Drive is an oasis from the chaos of cities. People like us would definitely prefer to spend our evenings here because of favorable weather conditions,” said a college-going youth taking a walk with his friends on Marine Drive.
Tourists who arrived in the state said that Marine Drive proved to be as good as their expectations of one of the most prominent landmarks in Mumbai. Some of these tourists could be seen taking photos in the background of the Mumbai skyline as well as the twinkling lights that make this destination so famous. Tour operators claimed that Marine Drive is one of their key recommendations for tourists.
The authorities have warned tourists to exercise caution in the vicinity of the coastline. Though enjoying the view by sitting along the coastline is generally practiced by tourists, the authorities have strictly warned people to avoid moving towards the edge or getting on the tetrapods. Remarks or notices that serve as an indication to tourists to remember the safety guidelines have been observed along the promenade.
As the weekend unfolds, there are expected to be a substantial number of people visiting Marine Drive. This comes as the celebrations for the new year are imminent, with authorities preparing for even more crowds in the coming days. The police have urged citizens to observe responsible celebrations to have a good time. This is as part of their efforts to ensure safety. The enormous footfall observed in Marine Drive is nothing but the result of the Mumbai populace’s passion for open spaces in general, and more so in times of festivities. However, the area still remains an open space that brings people from all walks of life together.
