- Asia's richest man is hosting a lavish wedding in Mumbai for his youngest son this weekend.
- Local traffic police announce road closures, causing frustration among some Mumbai locals.
Asia's richest man is throwing a massive wedding for his youngest son in Mumbai this weekend.
Anant Ambani, son of Mukesh Ambani, is set to wed Radhika Merchant in a lavish affair.
It's expected to delight Bollywood celebrities, business leaders, and politicians who are all on the guest list. But one group of people are not pleased — city residents.
Earlier this month, local traffic police posted a social media notice announcing road closures and diversions from Friday through Monday.
The document, posted on X, noted that a large number of guests and VIPs would be in attendance and added that the measures were being taken "in order to avoid inconvenience" for guests.
Due to a public event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex on July 5th & from July 12th to 15th, 2024, the following traffic arrangements will be in place for the smooth flow of traffic.#MTPTrafficUpdates pic.twitter.com/KeERCC3ikw
— Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) July 5, 2024
The notice and its wording, which also called the wedding a "public event" angered some locals who expressed their frustration on X, saying that Mumbai residents should not be disturbed so that a billionaire can throw a big party.
Mumbai is seen as India's financial capital, and its Bandra Kurla Complex, where the wedding is taking place, is a major business district. The city is also the country's most populated, and traffic congestion is a headache for locals.
Sonam Srivastava, CEO of Wright Research, whose office is adjacent to the Jio World Convention Centre, where the Ambani wedding is being held, told Business Insider that the venue has experienced "significant disruptions" due to traffic blockages.
Srivastava added: "This situation has forced us to reschedule critical client meetings and events planned for these dates. It's alarming that traffic in such a prominent business district has come to a standstill, causing significant inconvenience to businesses, for a private event."
The Ambani family hosted pre-wedding parties in Jamnagar in March, which were attended by some of the world's elite, including Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Ivanka Trump.
The Indian newspaper The Hindu Business Line reported at the time that about 150 planes descended into the local airport.
An airport official told Business Line that the airport organized some extra capacity for the guests by setting up a Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine center.